Orphan drugs are medicinal products intended for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of life-threatening or very serious diseases or disorders that are rare. A disease or disorder is defined as rare when it affects less than 1 in 2,000 citizens, some rare diseases include Moebius syndrome, Stoneman syndrome, alkaptonuria. These drugs are called “orphans” because, […]
A rare disease is any disease that affects a small percentage of people in a population. While no universal ratio exists, many countries or regions identify the prevalence of such conditions based on their environment. For instance in the European Union (EU), a disease is classified as a rare disease if it affects fewer than
“Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity” – Hippocrates When new drugs, vaccines, and medical devices are developed and marketed, one of the most important things to address is safety—the tracking of adverse events related to the usage of medicinal products. But what goes on behind the scenes
Clinical Trials vs. Clinical Research: What’s to Know? Read More »
After her father passed away, Halima requested his autopsy certificate to understand the cause of death. It was liver cancer. She feels stifled by the lack of willingness of her family to talk about hepatitis B, and wonders if old superstitions in her country about the disease are not contributing to the stigma associated with
Hepatitis: The Need to Accelerate Medical Interventions Read More »
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a hereditary disorder of hemoglobin. It is characterized by severe hemolytic anemia with a range of clinical manifestations such as anemia, periodic episodes of pain (pain crises), frequent infections, and delayed growth or puberty among other symptoms. More people in Africa suffer from SCD than in other parts of the
The evolution of clinical research traverses a long and fascinating journey. The recorded history of clinical trials goes back to the biblical descriptions in 500 BC. The journey moves from dietary therapy – legumes and lemons – to drugs. After the basic approach of the clinical trial was described in the 18th century, efforts were
The Impact Africa Summit (IAS) a brainchild of Nigeria’s foremost contract research organization is designed to initiate strategic interactions and forge collaborations for excellence within the clinical research industry for Africa. The goal of the Impact Africa Summit is to build a network of industry experts and stakeholders to help achieve sustainable capacity for pharmaceutical
Early research findings from Fitbit show that physiological signs of disease can be detected by wearable devices simultaneously with individuals reporting the onset of COVID-19 symptoms, and in some cases even before Fitbit has released findings from a recent study showing that its wearable device can detect nearly 50 percent of COVID-19 cases one day
Could Wearables Detect COVID-19 Before Symptoms Appear? Read More »
Researchers have designed and tested a protein that may lead to a therapeutic for COVID-19. A novel receptor protein that binds to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and prevents it from entering cells may hold promise for treating COVID-19 and other coronavirus-related diseases, according to research published online Aug. 4 in the journal SCIENCE. As scientists race
From a long-standing brick-and-mortar model, the healthcare system adopts more virtual care, deepening focus on patient-centricity and engagement. After many months of the enduring pandemic, taking a brief respite to reflect on the changes that have occurred, and which ones will change the way healthcare is practiced and delivered, is imperative to continue to grow
