… Urges HIV/AIDS patients to continue taking antiretroviral drugs.
National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have expressed concern over recent claims by Maduike Ezeibe, a professor of Veterinary Medicine and Clinical Virology at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Abia State, that he has found a cure for AIDS.
The agencies therefore advise HIV patients that there is no cure for AIDS yet, and should not stop taking the life-saving antiretroviral drugs.
The agencies in a release signed by Sani Aliyu, director-general, NACA, and Chikwe Ihekweazu, CEO, NCDC, said Nigerians should be wary of the claim by Ezeibe that he had found a cure for AIDS.
According to the organisations, the study on which his claim is based was not published in renowned medical journals and the primary outcome measured in the study was based on plasma viral load levels that are known to fluctuate in patients, even in the absence of any intervention.
“Following the discrediting of the claims of Dr. Abalaka in the late nineties, we had also hoped that the Nigerian press would thoroughly investigate these AIDS cure claims before going to press, given the huge impact that these could have on patients lives,” the release noted.
The agencies said the study was published in two little known, fee-charging ‘predatory’ journals and involved less than 10 patients, raising suspicion about its validity.
Usually, important scientific studies are published in top medical journals like the Journal of the American Association (JAMA), the Lancet and the British Medical Journal (BMJ), among others who adopt a rigorous peer review process as well as extensive revisions by experts before they are proven true. This is not the case with Ezeibe’s study.
The agencies also argued that basing primary outcome measurement solely on a fluctuating plasma viral load levels invalidated the study.
“It is also worth noting that virological suppression (viral load less than 50 copies/ml) was not achieved in 6 of 8 patients.”
The agencies further said that there appeared to be no medical doctor involved in the execution of the study and there was no evidence on where or how the patients were treated or monitored during this study, their clinical and treatment status at the beginning or at the end of it.
“It is important to note that clinical trials are conducted in a series phases – each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
“These include; 1.) Phase I: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety 2.) Phase II: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective 3.) Phase III: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, comparing it to commonly used treatments, and Phase IV: Studies are done to gather information on the drug’s effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.
“Eziebe’s study was contested also on the fact that it did not state what phase the study was and the results of previous phases, if these were done.
“One critical issue is that there was no evidence from the publication that the authors obtained ethical clearance from an appropriate body in Nigeria to conduct this study, and only ambiguous evidence that informed consent was sought from the evidently vulnerable patients.”
The statement said there are long established, tried and tested routes for the discovery, development and validation of modern medicines before they can be registered and used for treatment in humans and animals.
“We call on all academics to follow legal and scientifically acceptable methods in conducting their research and to avoid making premature claims that are capable of derailing the huge progress made in the last two decades on the war against HIV/AIDS.”
They also called the media to subject claims of AIDS cure to seek comments from the leadership of the relevant government parastatals and professional bodies when it receives new research findings related to our areas of responsibility.
Anthonia Obokoh
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