COVID-19: NAFDAC Faults News On PAX HERBAL Clinic, Says No Herbal Drug Approval Yet

By Charles Igbo

The National Agency For Food and Drug Administration Control, NAFDAC, has faulted the news which made the rounds on Saturday that it has approved  the use of a herbal medicine, PAX HERBAL, for the management of COVID-19.

NAFDAC said it only approved it as ‘safe to use’, and never confirmed  its efficacy for the treatment of the COVID-19, describing the news as wrong and inaccurate.

The founder of PAX HERBAL Clinic, Ewu, Rev. Fr. Dr. Anselem Adodo, in an internal memo, celebrated the feat of the Clinic , saying that the drugs had gone through all processes.

But NAFDAC said in a statement signed by its DG, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, that although the Agency  is evaluating 21 Herbal Drugs for the management of COVID-19, it has not approved any of them as none has gone through Clinical trials with human beings.

According to the DG, “NAFDAC is currently  processing 21 herbal medicinal products, for safe use or Listing Status.

“Many of the applicants say their products are immune boosters and, anti-effective, useful for relief of symptoms that could be associated with COVID-19.

“However, no clinical study has been done yet on any of the products to  prove their claim of efficacy.

“Listing Status involves the review of the composition of the formulation, the labelling of the product, the process of manufacture, and “safe to use” testing.

Pax Herbal applied for the listing of Pax  Herbal Cugzin capsul 290mg which was approved by NAFDAC, and listed as “safe to use.”

“The applicant claimed that it is an immune booster, and an anti-ineffective. However, as part of the labelling of the product, and in line with global practice, a disclaimer is on the product label which clearly States that the claims have not been evaluated by NAFDAC.

“Therefore, the statements circulating in the media that NAFDAC has approved the treatment of COVID-19 with the Herbal medicine is not accurate”