Aids cure alert: Scientist speaks out

‘I WANT TO TEST HIS VACCINES’

Oni VINCENT in Toronto

INTELLIPHARMACEUTICS Supremo Prof. Issa Odidi has revealed to the AfriCanadian Journal how he plans to assist the federal government of Nigeria in solving its aids pandemic and provide Dr. Abalaka, creator of the controversial aids vaccines a means of independently testing his vaccines.

   Multimillionaire Odidi is offering to map out efficacy studies both in-vitro and in-vivo, for Abalaka’s findings at no cost to the government. ‘I can show Abalaka the way, he says. If the vaccines works. It is guaranteed that the proceeds from the commercialisation of the product will turn over $5 billion dollars US.’

   Odidi’s declarations comes after the Association of Northern Nigerians in Canada (ANNIC) staged an HIV/AIDS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN in Toronto, Canada. Full story on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin...  

INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed pharmaceutical inventor and innovator Issa Odidi wants to get the business done, writes Oni VINCENT, the foremost media personality to interview Prof Issa Odidi, who is endowed with the enviable credentials of a distinguished leader. Check this out! His trump card lead this writer to win the Nigerian Canadian Association elections, as General Secretary, back in the days. Additional reporting by Imoudu Ekhar

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ONE PERSON in whom the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and kicking is Issa Odidi, one of the doughtiest movers and shakers in his field. People seem incapable of mentioning Prof. Issa Odidi, without reference to his accomplishments.

   The founding of his pharmaceutical company, Intellipharmaceutics, marks the high point of his illustrious career as a scientist with an astute business sense. Intellipharmaceutics, located in Mississauga, west Toronto and only just five years old, host a network of research specialists and scientists. Issa Odidi has also helped many African scientists with words of encouragement, offering professional advice and sometimes employment in the pharmaceutical industry. An industry which has all but one or two windows of opportunities open to a large pool of qualified African scientists. His exemplary track record at Biovail Corporation sent shock waves throughout the financial world as their stock/share value went through the roof at the TSE (Toronto Stock Exchange).

   After weeks of phone calls, we finally got the opportunity to talk with this remarkable inventor. We met at his Dunwin Drive location in Mississauga. Issa emerges, oozing confidence and self-belief, but in a modest and self-effacing way.

   He is a born entrepreneur - his description, not mine. ‘After developing several blockbuster drugs at Biovail, the next logical thing to do was go on my own,’ He tells us, not boasting.

   He is a member of a host of business, research and educational organisations - such as professor of Pharmaceutical Technology at the Toronto Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology and visiting research Professor of molecular medicine in California.

TRAIL BLAZER

These and a growing number of publications and public speaking engagements, have ensured that Issa has become an inspiration to other black people eager to venture into the pharmaceutical world.

   Born into a well respected and influential family, the seeds of success were sown after Issa received his B.Sc degree in Pharmacy, from the Ahmadu Bello University and got his M.Sc and his doctorate in Pharmaceutics from the University of London, in the U.K.

VISION

After joining Biovail Corporation in 1995, he and Dr Amina Odidi went on to establish their business, Intellipharmaceutics. As a result of a growing demand for their delivery platforms by other pharmaceutical companies, Issa and Amina, are planning to employ more first class scientists, management consultants and professionals to make Intellipharmaceutics a more viable place for the manufacture of drugs in the controlled drug delivery industry.

   Forget the weeks of playing phone tag. As we find out, Prof. Issa Odidi is a very busy man. It is obvious to anyone familiar with Intellipharmaceutics that he is the Chairman of the board and the Chief scientific officer. So, we decided to ask Prof. Odidi about this new scientific phenomenon.

ACJ: Dr., we know that you are a scientist by profession who makes drugs, how would you best describe what you do, to the layman on the street?

For the most part, that is exactly what I (we) do - more like a creator or inventor of drugs. This is with regards to compliance. For instance, some of the more popular illnesses like hypertension, high blood pressure or diabetes that mainly affect the elderly people. Most of the time they are required to take a number of pills so many times a day - which is not fair to anyone at any age or clime. People forget, some may not want to take these drugs because of the huge number of pills they are required to take and its attendant side effects. And this is where we come in....(he got up to illustrate on a board with the aid of a simple graph) .

   We are able to reduce the number of pills by producing one that would function at optimum level in a person’s system. Thus reducing or eliminating the possibility of relapses or fluctuations in treatment that may occur as a result of irregularities in intake or dosage. That is one example. However, our main invention here at Intellipharmaceutics is technological know-how. Controlled drug delivery through the system.

   This innovative invention has infinite possibilities that are not only restricted to the pharmaceuticals but, other aspects of society. Cosmetic, agriculture, veterinary etc. Just imagine the possibilities for the notorious Malaria back home (in Nigeria), where you have to take a handful of pills to combat any attack of Malaria Fever. Our delivery platform could eliminate all that and provide a much better alternative.

 Now that you have mentioned the possibilities in Nigeria, this brings us to the next question. You are aware of the present state of health care in Nigeria - which is almost nonexistent. Are there any plans to assist and invest in Nigeria?

Yes! In fact, I was just on the phone with the Nigerian Minister for Health before you came. We were discussing plans and possibilities of Intellipharmaceutics setting up a factory in Nigeria. With the intention of manufacturing for export. Unfortunately, the bureaucratic red tape and lack of adequate infrastructure to support a high tech pharmaceutical manufacturing company is impeding progress. For instance, I have an agreement to produce a certain pharmaceutical product for one of my clients within a six-month time period. Assuming the factory has been built and set up. Added to the cost of raw materials would be the exorbitant cost of clearing.

   As you are aware, most of the goods come through Cotonu into Nigeria to avoid the hassles and headache of the Nigerian customs. Then add to that the epileptic power supply in Nigeria which will not only hinder production but also ruin equipment worth millions of dollars. And if after six months I cannot deliver on my contract as result of these problems, I will not only loose my credibility but be heavily indebted to them. Initially, Abuja seems like a suitable place to set up manufacturing operations in Nigeria. To even acquire a piece of land … they are asking 10m to 27m Naira. Factor in the other impediments mentioned earlier, the whole idea is almost a lost cause. I am even willing to manufacture and sell at cost to Nigerians. The initial idea was for export! 

At the launching of an Aids/HIV awareness program in Nigeria hosted by ANNIC (Association of Northern Nigerians in Canada), you donated generously. We gathered from your actions that you felt quite passionately about the project. Above all, you pledged to assist with the testing of Dr. Abalaka’s treatment and cure for aids. Could you elaborate on that?

Yes, Aids or HIV is a serious problem. Whether here in Canada or in Africa, this plague is killing people. Something has to be done to curb this epidemic. The Nigerian doctor who claims to have found the cure for Aids, we (Intellipharmaceutics) are willing to do the testing to prove that it actually works. We would do the toxicology testing - to show that it is nontoxic. We have to be sure that if it does cures HIV, the side effects don’t kill. We would also do the in-vitro and invivo testing as well as activity study and all other testings to be sure it meets FDA standards. He should not worry about money, we are willing to finance his sabbatical to Canada to be with us in the laboratory while we do the testing. And if it works, he is guaranteed nothing less than $5 billion US.

We gathered from reports out of Nigeria that Dr. Tam David-West has been critical of Dr, Abalaka’s private security by Nigerian soldiers (commandos) at the expense of ordinary Nigerians just to protect a claim - as Dr. Abalaka fears that foreign bodies may try to harm for his antidote/cure.

   All that is rubbish! We are willing to do the testing for him. This is an epidemic that is killing millions of people especially in Africa. As you know, the US has declared Aids/HIV a risk to national security. Withholding a cure for this disease may be considered a serious crime if he were in the US. He may even be arrested! He better get cracking with proper testing and securing a patent for it before someone else does and reaps the benefits.

   Unless he has something to hide, he should submit the vaccine for independent and unbiased testing and substantiation. Although, I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, without the independent testing, it will be seen by many as just a claim.

   Could you tell us what made you start Intellipharmaceutics?

   Besides being beaten by the entrepreneurial bug, I also saw an opportunity to explore and develop the infinite possibilities of this innovative distribution system. So far, we have been successful in developing a series of new products for our clients and by this time next year we will be expanding our business - bringing new investors and possibly offer shares on the TSE and AMEX. We also plan to go beyond developing new products for our clients to include manufacturing for the commercial market.

There have been lots of Africans starting new businesses within the last few years. What do you think of this trend?

   Well of course I think it’s great. You know that small businesses have been the backbone of American economy especially in the computer industry. As long as they have the skills and know what they are doing, ‘am all for it’

   Your wife Dr Amina Odidi is one of the principal partners and owner of Intellipharmaceutics, serving as the president and CEO. Was that the main attraction to each other?

   Well, yes and some other...you are smart enough to figure the rest. Dr. Amina is not just a partner, she actually established and set up Intellipharmaceutics with her own tenacity. She is an accomplished scientist and quite possibly, a genius when it comes to research, design, development and fabrication of controlled delivery technology platforms. (Prof. Odidi then took the AfriCanadian team on a tour of Intellipharmaceutics - the laboratories where these delivery platforms are conceived, designed and tested using some very sophisticated equipment worth millions of dollars)

   ‘There is no room for error when dealing with the human body,’ he says, pointing to one of the machines and computers. ‘This stimulates the gastic and intestinal organs in the body for testing these controlled delivery devices.’ Oh, and we ran into Dr. Amina Odidi who was so busy that she could only nod to acknowledge our presence, sitting in her office against the backdrop of abstract art that adorned the entire complex. Just before her PM school run, we were able to squeeze about 15 minutes of her time to chat.

We are so glad for making time out for us. We promise not to keep you for too long.

   No problem, anything for the press, ( she smiles)

This is an unusual occupation for any woman let alone an African woman. How did you get into it?

   Well, my father had plans for me to study medicine. So, after I had graduated from high school with a full scholarship to study medicine in the university, after about a year, I switched to pharmacy because I really liked research.

What advice do you have for young women who wish to follow your footsteps into your chosen discipline?

   A lot of hard work and studies. It’s not easy raising children and going to school like I did while studying for my doctorate in London, England. But as you can see all the hard work is paying off.

It goes without saying that as one of the principal partners of Intellipharmaceutics, it can be very demanding. How are you able to juggle being a mother, wife and a scientist?

   My children and my family comes first. I was just on my way to pick my little ones from daycare. 

For secret intelligence purposes, are there any scoops we should know about your husband?

   He relishes a good dish of Pounded Yam and Egusi soup.

No more questions, thank you.

   Thank you too.