Driven by the imperative to support the Federal Government of Nigeria and the affected victims of the highly infectious Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the current challenging period of the outbreak of this epidemic, the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers' Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN}, has set up a committee to facilitate access to commodities for the treatment and prevention of the Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria. " 

The Group, comprising local manufacturers with strong Research and Development base and qualified professionals is seriously worried that the prognosis of this disease is not encouraging unless confronted with an evident based therapeutic regimen that eliminate the virus at the shortest possible time. 

The Executive committee of PMG-MAN has in the main charged the committee with the following short term responsibilities amongst other things: 

1. Direct individual member R&D departments to come out with palliative treatment options that will support the current management of affected patients as approved by the Federal ministry of health. 

2. Liaise with their respective international partners to review and share knowledge of their current pipelines including "intermediates" or their derivatives that shows promise as a possible candidate to progress to phase 3 and 4 clinical trial processes. 

3. Liaise with Mapp Biopharmaceuticals, LeafBio (San Diego, CA), Defyrus Inc, Toronto. and other R&D based pharmaceutical companies that are currently working on BVD for the purpose of possible partnership, cohort planning, and local clinical trials in Nigeria. 

4. Liaise with the Federal Government "EVD Treatment Research Expert Committee" and share experience with all possible treatment options for the purpose of supporting the infected Nigerians. 

5. Donate palliative drugs such as infusions, antibiotics and immune boosters to support the current management interventions for quarantined patients. 

6. Motivate for ELISA based Rapid test kits availability in all health centres, ports and boarders. This will improve early detection and resolution. 

PM G-MAN hereby encourages All Nigerians to follow precautionary measures as directed by the Federal Ministry of Health, as well as observe improvements in personal hygiene and comply with instructions to use hand sanitizers and disinfectants regularly. 

In view of the huge cost required for the development of drugs up to phase 4 clinical trial (above $800 million) African Manufacturers MUST double research efforts to solve health care challenges relevant to Africa PMG- MAN is therefore encouraging R&D in medicines for conditions such as Sickle Cell anaemia, malaria and other neglected tropical diseases to assure timely responses for similar outbreaks. 1 

PMGMAN can be reached on a Hotline: 08098990990 

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria! 

Signed 

Okey Akpa FPSN

Chairman

Olakinee Ofelola

Executive Secretary