In Nigeria, the need for the advancement of indigenous pharmaceutical research and development (R&D) in order to enhance Development and commercialization of pharmaceutical raw materials, drugs and biological products has long been recognized. Therefore in 1987, the federal Government approved the establishment of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) as a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. This approval was based on the recommendation of the pharmaceutical society of Nigeria (PSN).

The Institute was established under the Science and Technology Act of 1980 with the primary objective of developing drugs, biological products and pharmaceutical raw materials from indigenous resources.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) made financial contributions toward the take-off of the Institute. A Board of Governors governs the Institute with representations from the PSN, PMG-MAN, Traditional Medicine Practitioners, Federal Ministry of Health (FMH) and Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) while the Chief Executive serves as member and Secretary to the Board.

The first major activity of the Institute was the organization of an International Workshop on “Strategies and Priorities for Indigenous Pharmaceutical Research and Development” in October 1989. The proceedings of the workshop were published in 1991. In 1990, the Institute embarked on the documentation of medicinal and aromatic plants within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The data accumulated during the enthnobotanical survey are being compiled into a National compendium of medicinal and aromatic plants in Nigeria.

Functions of the Institute

The Institute, which formally took off in January 1989, has the following functions:

Undertake research and development work on drugs, biological products including vaccines and pharmaceutical raw materials from indigenous natural resources and by synthesis using appropriate science and technology methodologies.

Conduct appropriate investigations and consequent applications in the areas of evaluation, preservation, purification, standardization, safety and rational utilization of traditional medicine.

Develop methodologies for quality assessment of biological products, orthodox and herbal medicines including their raw materials.

Serve as reference centre for research work on the biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, storage and stability of imported and locally manufactured drugs and biological products.

Conduct research and development work into pharmaceutical biotechnology, nutrition, cosmetics and environmental science for improved quality oflife and the conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants.

Establish and operate a quality assurance laboratory for pharmaceutical raw materials and products.

Promote and sponsor staff development; through training courses, workshops, and fellowship within and outside Nigeria.

Promote and sponsor the local development and production of drugs, vaccines pharmaceutical machinery, devices and accessories.

Promote and sponsor the local development and production of drugs, vaccines pharmaceutical machinery, devices and accessories.

Promote the pilot production unit of the Institute into a limited liability business venture.

Transfer pharmaceutical products and machinery technologies to private sector industries, and render consultancy and extension services to such and other organizations.

Establish and maintain relevant laboratories, clinics, medicinal plant gardens in strategic ecological zones of Nigeria as may be' necessary for the performance of the functions.

Compile and publish relevant data resulting from the performance of the functions ofthe Institute.

Sponsor such national and international conferences, workshops, and symposia, as may be considered appropriate.

Patent and register new products and processes with appropriate national bodies, international organizations, and selected countries.

Enter into commercial and other appropriate agreements with relevant national and multinational corporations regarding the marketing and utilization of the Institute's products and services.

Liaise with higher institutions, government organizations, multinational bodies and other relevant establishments within and outside Nigeria in the pursuance of the mandate ofthe Institute.

Establish and develop drug information system, collate and synthesize relevant research information for drug manufacturing industries and research centres.

Projects

Projects Undertaken by the Institute

• Formation of contraceptive preparation obtained from natural products.
• Development of pharmaceutical grade starch from local sources and preparation of feasibility report on same.
• Production of microcrystalline cellulose from elephant grass and corn stalk.
• Assessment of semi-processed kaolin for production of pharmaceutical grade kaolin.
• Assessment of locally available colorant as a pharmaceutical expicient.
• Development of analytical “fingerprints” for some herbal medicines.
• Provision of clinical services to the public.
• Provision of ARVs through the federal government ARV programme.
• Validation of claims by TMPs on effectiveness of some herbal medicines against HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis etc.
• Screening of medicinal plants for activity against tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
• National CD4 baseline counts study.
• Development of phytomedicine for the management of sickle cell disease.
• Development of anti-malaria phytomedicine .
• Development of an immune booster, a phytomedicine for the management of persons with HIV/AIDS.