Patents on the soles of your shoes...: Oh, patents! Traditional African medicine (1)

Copyright @ Françoise Herrmann

In countries where trained physician density, measured as the ratio of 1 physician to 1000 [WHO(1), WHO(2), World Bank], is to the order of 1:20,000 compared to the ratio of 1:200-400 for traditional healthcare practitioners, it makes sense, according to Professor Dbodossou, founder of PRO.ME.TRA, to consider, rather than to outlaw, the parallel indigenous healthcare system. Especially, when a given population favors, respects and trusts the healers, or when their practices are effective. Indeed, it makes sense to actively explore and research the vast depository of traditional indigenous knowledge and practices, in view of embracing all of the possibilities for healthcare services. According to the World Health Organization, the minimum standard of care is 23 doctors, nurses and midwives for a population of 10,000 [WHO (3)]

The non-profit organization PRO.ME.TRA International precisely seeks to recognize and promote indigenous practices and knowledge, in an effort to build bridges between both Western and traditional healthcare systems. PRO.ME.TRA International headquarters are located in Dakar, Senegal, on the West Coast of Africa. The organization was founded in 1971, with a mission to promote traditional African medical practices. Thus, PRO.ME.TRA conducts research, hosts conferences, maintains chapters in 28 countries, and is an officially recognized partner of Senegal’s public health institutions. PRO.ME.TRA also circulates various publications, including a bilingual (French and English) newsletter called Médecine Verte. Members of the organization’s International Board of Directors are all trained medical doctors.

The organization’s research agenda focuses on the use of indigenous knowledge and practices for the treatment of such diseases as AIDS, ebola, cancer, diabetes, viral hepatitis and various sorts of skin diseases. Several of the researched herbal therapies are already patented.

The following non-exhaustive and hyperlinked list of patents includes WIPO, EPO and US patent families for each of several herbal therapies, including a list of 11 OA patents granted by the OAPI, the intellectual property organization for French-speaking African countries:

WIPO, EPO and US patents

WO2016181214 (A1) ― 2016-11-17 - Compositions and methods for the treatment of ebola virus disease
US2012009289 (A1) ― 2012-01-12 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing cyperus articulatus, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) and the variants thereof
WO2010112967 (A1) ― 2010-10-07 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing cyperus articulatus, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) and the variants thereof
EP2437765 (A1) ― 2012-04-11 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing cyperus articulatus, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) and the variants thereof
US2012009286 (A1) ― 2012-01-12 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing momordica balsamina, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) and the variants thereof
EP2437761 (A1) ― 2012-04-11 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing momordica balsamina, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) and the variants thereof
WO2010112968 (A1) ― 2010-10-07 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing momordica balsamina, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) and the variants thereof

Aframomum melegueta
EP2437766 (A1) ― 2012-04-11 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing aframomum melegueta, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids)
US2012052140 (A1) ― 2012-03-01 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing aframomum melegueta, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids)
WO2010112966 (A1) ― 2010-10-07 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing aframomum melegueta, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids)
WO02062364 (A1) ― 2002-08-15 -Antiviral composition made from medicinal plants for combating hiv/aids
EP1357924 (A1) ― 2003-11-05 - Antiviral composition made from medicinal plants for combating hiv/aids
WO02094299 (A1) ― 2002-11-28 - Medicinal plant extracts used in the treatment of diabetic diseases

OAPI patents

Acacia senegalensis

OA12548 (A) ― 2006-06-05 - Nouveau produit pharmaceutique à partir d'écorce d'Acacia Seyal et son utilisation pour le traitement des hémorroides
OA12547 (A) ― 2006-06-05 - Nouveau produit pharmaceutique à partir d'écorce de Euphorbia balsamifera et son utilisation pour le traitement des hémorroides
OA12546 (A) ― 2006-06-05 - Nouveau produit pharmaceutique à partir d'écorce de Guiera senegalensis et son utilisation pour le traitement de hémorroides.
OA12545 (A) ― 2006-06-05 - Nouveau produit pharmaceutique à partir d'écorce de Leptadenia hastata et son utilisation pour le traitement des hémorroides
OA12439 (A) ― 2006-05-22 - Nouveau produit pharmaceutique obtenu à partir d'écorce de l'Acacia senegalensis et son utilisation dans le traitement des dermatoses
OA12438 (A) ― 2006-05-22 - Nouveau produit pharmaceutique obtenu à partir d'écorce de Lannea acida et son utilisation dans le traitement des dermatoses
OA11763 (A) ― 2005-07-19 - Produit pharmaceutique obtenu à partir de Prosopisafricana et son utilisation dans le traitement des maladies diabétiques
OA11762 (A) ― 2005-07-19 - Produit pharmaceutique obtenu à partir de Sclerocarya birrea et son utilisation dans le traitement des maladies diabétiques
OA11761 (A) ― 2005-07-19 - Produit pharmaceutique obtenu à partir de Moringa oleifera et son utilisation dans le traitement des maladies diabétiques
OA11720 (A) ― 2005-01-26 - Produit pharmaceutique obtenu à partir de l'Anacardium occidentale et son utilisation dans le traitement des maladies diabétiques

OA11602 (A) ― 2004-07-30 - Nouvelles compositions antivirales à usage thérapeutique pour le traitement de la maladie du syndrome d'immuno déficience acquise (SIDA) et ses variante