By SYLVESTER THOMPSON

The National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) is considering the production of insulin and antiretroviral drugs for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), hopefully within a timeline of two years.

The Director-General of NBRDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

He disclosed that the agency’s collaboration with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology facilitated the availability of the technology of insulin, a peptide hormone that helps to maintain blood sugar levels within a healthy range.

He said that with the depth of the agency’s research and the agreement with a partner company, production of some drugs and vaccines shall subsequently commence.

He added that “the drugs we want to start producing will fill the gap for HIV drugs that are not readily available in the country due to withdrawal of support.

“So, we want to see how we can fill the gap; we have collaborations.

“We are working with our partner company to start producing antiretroviral drugs for HIV and we are going to do it here in NBRDA.”

According to him, there are areas the agency has earmarked which start-ups are going to grow from.

Mustapha said NBRDA’s focus under his stewardship is to complement government’s policy to ensure that there are start-ups for the industrialisation of the country.

He stressed that industrialisation of Nigeria was an idea that should be encouraged from all quarters.

He disclosed that at the arrival of necessary documents, they intend to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a partner company that would kick-start the insulin production.

He explained that “hopefully in the next two years, we will definitely have something on the table.

“That is our target, meaning that we have started the implementation of research and we encourage other people to come forward to help drive the industrialisation process of our country.” (NAN)