Chemistry:Nicosan

From HandWiki

Nicosan, also known as Hemoxin, Niprisan, or Nix-0699, is a phytochemical which was studied in sickle-cell disease (SCD).[1] As of 2017 it does not appear to be commercially available, as the only manufacturer, which was in Nigeria, has stopped producing it due to financial problems.[2]

Medical uses

There is tentative evidence that it may be useful in sickle-cell disease.[1] It however does not appear to affect overall complications or rates of anemia.[1]

Chemistry

It is an ethanol/water extract of Piper guineense seeds, Pterocarpus osum stem, Eugenia caryophyllus fruit, and Sorghum bicolor leaves.[3]

History

It was developed at the Nigerian National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) (U.S. Patent # 5,800,819 - September 1, 1998). NIPRD has conducted Phase III clinical trials in Nigeria which showed unclear benefits but have not been published as of 2010.[4]

In August 2002, a Nigerian subsidiary of the American company Xechem International,[4] acquired the rights to Nicosan. On July 6, 2006, the drug was announced in Nigeria, with the president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, in attendance. In 2008, a fraud complaint alleged that Nigerian public money was spent on the drug.[5] Xechem International went bankrupt in 2008 and production of the drug stopped.[6]

Footnotes