Amina Kibirige
6 June 2008
Nairobi — Controversial Kenyan scientist Arthur Obel Thursday claimed he had yet again discovered a drug for HIV and Aids.
Making the announcement in Mombasa in an exclusive interview, Prof Obel said his new drug, named OSCean could reduce an infected person's viral load to zero.
"The drug shall be launched on the 16th of June in Nairobi, and the initial treatments shall be offered free of charge for as long as the stocks can last," said Prof Obel, soon after opening the Third East African Project Management Summit at the Sarova Whitesands.
But Medical Services assistant minister Danson Mungatana asked Prof Obel to immediately take the drug to be tested for efficacy by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.
"This is the procedure that all drugs in our market are expected to follow before they are put on the market," Mr Mungatana said.
Speaking on telephone, Mr Mungatana said it was "impossible" at this stage to state whether the new drug works, until testing was carried out by professionals.
More potent
OSCean is the fourth drug the Aids researcher has come up with, terming each subsequent discovery more potent than the previous one.
It comes four years after Compound Q27 and 11 years after Pearl Omega, which was banned by the authorities.
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