Lagos — The GDP Ayurvedic Univer-sity (GDPAU), New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States, has signed a landmark agreement with Professor Louis Nelson for the commercialisation, marketing and sales of AD-1, the anti-diabetic drug for which he made a historic discovery recently.

Chairman and President of GDPAU, Professor Ramesh C. Pandey, said yesterday that his varsity had signed the exclusive worldwide licence agreement for the commercialization, sales and marketing of the diabetic herbal drug (currently named AD-1) with the renowned scientist.

The agreement was signed on February 3, 2009 at the Sheraton Hotel in Abuja in the presence of Nigerian and international distinguished guests and dignitaries including the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong.

Others included the Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceuticals Research and Development (NIPRD), Dr. Uford Inyang; and the Senate President represented by the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Gyang Dantong.

THISDAY had reported earlier this month the historic find of a cure for diabetes by the scientist, which Hong had described as epochal and historical.

In the words of Hong : "The occasion is an epoch and historical day in the history of Nigeria. The drug would expand the landscape of medicine in the world and encourage more researchers into herbal drugs in the country."

The minister further stated at the signing ceremony that there was hardly a house you went in Nigeria, that one person would not be affected by the killer disease. He pledged the support of the Federal Government, especially those who are into herbal medicine research.

Dr. Uford Inyang, the DG of NIPRD, commended Pandey for taking this bold step of signing the agreement and expressed the inability of the Federal Govern-ment to explore the enormous benefits in the herbal market.

He stressed the need to focus on the herbal drugs.

On his part, Nelson said: "We are excited and looking forward to working with Professor Pandey and GDPAU in the further development and commercialization of AD-1 for diabetes patients worldwide."

The discovery of the anti-diabetic drug was a result of extensive research and firm commitment of Professor Nelson in the natural plant products of Nigerian biodiversity. With the financial support from Akwa Ibom State, further work was carried out at NIPRD and clinical trials at University of Jos by the Nigerian scientist.

Pandey described the drug, AD-1, as the second great drug that had come out of the continent, particularly from Nigeria.

The first being the herbal drug NICOSAN for the prophylactic management of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), which was licensed by Prof. Pandey from NIPRD in July 2002.

Pandey further said: "I believe in African Natural Biodiversity and all Nigerians should be proud that they have given two herbal drugs to the world for the two important diseases."

Diabetes which afflicts over 180 million sufferers worldwide is a life threatening condition and it is a syndrome of disordered metabolism resulting in abnormally high sugar level (hyperglycemia).

The World Health Organiza-tion (WHO) estimates that by 2030, the number of people that suffer from Diabetes will exceed 366 million.

GDP Ayurvedic University (GDPAU) is a "not-for-profit" tax exempt organisation established in 2001 at New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S. with the vision to bring credibility and recognition to the Traditional Systems of Health and Medicines through research, education, training therapy and mass promotion.