NAFDAC denies approving IHP Detox tea for COVID-19
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has dismissed alleged claims of efficacy of IHP Detox Tea for the cure of COVID-19 patients produced in Nigeria by the Chief Executive officer of Bioresources Development and Conservative Programme, Prof. Maurice Iwu.
According to the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, “Only NAFDAC has the mandate to make any pronouncement on the quality, safety, and efficacy of all regulated products that showed satisfactory scientific evidence.”
NAFDAC is the only authorized Agency by law that is allowed to make any pronouncement on safety and efficacy of all regulated products with satisfactory scientific evidence (Clinical Trial).
Adeyeye explained that three herbal formulations were approved for clinical trial studies during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
She said while two studies have commenced including the IHP Detox Tea, the third clinical trial study is yet to start. The IHP Detox Tea clinical trial study at CMU/LUTH and NAUTH, approved for Prof Iwu’s company, was only a pilot study, that is still ongoing, with a small sample size that is inadequate to make a pronouncement on safety and efficacy of the product.
She insisted that only a NAFDAC approved Phase 3 Clinical Trial with enough sample size can be used to make such claims on efficacy, after regulatory approval of the study outcomes.
She, however, asked Prof Iwu to retract the statement on the same newspapers and any other platform used for such improper and misleading representation of the IHP Detox Tea study within 48 hours from the receipt of the letter and inform the Agency of the action to avoid further regulatory sanctions.
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