COA Mixture To Be Marketed As A Herbal Medicine

Professor Samuel Ato Duncan, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the COA Research and Manufacturing Company Limited, and Nana Mensa Bonsu, Asakyirehene for Otumfour Osei Tutu ll, on Wednesday 25, May 2022 re-launched COA, Mixture following the Food and Drugs Authority(FDA)’s authorization for the product to be marketed as herbal medicine.

With the approval by the FDA, the status of COA FS as it was previously known and as a food supplement, has now been formulated as an herbal medicine with the new name COA Mixture.

Consequently, a new state-of-the-art factory has been built at Wosorkrom in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District in the Central Region of Ghana to produce the rebranded COA Mixture for the local and international market.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the media on Wednesday  towards the re-launch, Professor  Samuel Ato Duncan, that disclosed that the establishment of the ultramodern facility would enable the company to further research and manufacture more products from COA stable.

Professor Ato Duncan, stated categorically that the new factory was fully automated  to reduce human contact in line with  international practice and as stipulated by the FDA. The facility, he explained, would also be used as a research centre for herbal medicine practitioners and medical students in the universities to enhance the knowledge in their field of study.

He made the media know that it had not been an easy journey to get his vision and mission to become a reality but with determination he had succeeded. Citing, the initial hitches in getting the product registered and also having to withdraw the product from the market, led to the loss of millions of Ghana cedis.

“It was no wonder that a study carried out on the COA Mixture at the School of Pharmacy, KwaZulu Natal University, South Africa, confirmed in a preliminary phytochemicals screening that a total of 161 organic compounds were found in the ingredients of COA Mixture making it the potent herbal medicine in recent history,” Prof. Duncan.

The Deputy Minister of Health Mahama Asei Seini, said Africa is home to a wide variety of medicinal plants and we should admit that almost every herb found in Africa has some medicinal properties and Ghana is no exception. Herb-based treatments have been part of the continent’s.

He stress that traditional medicinal practices has flourished for for thousands of years. A greater percentage of our rural population rely on plant medicine for the treatment of their diseases. Undeniably, plant medicines are beneficial in treating diseases or maintaining good health. Some have even been the source of prescription medicines.

He added that that the world has evolved, and so must we. Once upon a time, the advanced medicines that are found in our hospitals and pharmacies today started in a very crude manner. However, with research and the adoption of technology and good manufacturing processes (GMPs), they went on to become globally accepted brands.

Alhaji Mahama Seini, the member of Parliament for Daboya/Mankarigu constituency, said these manufacturers saw the future, and they worked towards it. They seized the opportunities. They stumbled but rose up and corrected their mistakes.

“We can do same here in Ghana. I do not think that it is too late,” he stated.

He further said that China has shown that plant medicine can rake in a lot of revenue to the state. According to Statistics, China rakes in over 1.2billion dollars annually from Traditional Chinese Medicine export. China also boasts of about 700 Traditional Chinese Medicine Research institutions.

“We are all witnesses to the excellent reviews regarding the use of COA Mixture. I believe this research contributed in no small way to the success stories we are hearing today. I therefore commend the various research institutions and individuals who have supported this worthy cause,” he added.

He noted that, “This is the time for institutional collaborations towards enhancing plant medicine for global acceptability.

The manufacturers must work closely with our scientists, engineers, pharmacists and the various regulators. This is I how we can survive the global competitiveness in the pharmaceutical sector.”

According to the Lawmaker of Daboya/ Mankarigu constituency, COA has demonstrated it is possible and therefore seized the opportunity to challenge all other herbal producers to channel part of their resources into research.

“If COA did it and its paying off today, you can also do same. This is the time to make some sacrifices. Remember, it will pay off in the end.”

He indicated that government is committed to creating an enabling environment so plant medicine can compete favourably with orthodox medicine. Thereby contributing to Government’s vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and a healthy population which makes it possible and eventually to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Three (3) by 2030 that is “Achieving Health for at all Ages”.

Alhaji Mahama Asei Seini, who spoke on behalf of the sector Minister Mr. Kwaku Agyemang Manu, emphasized that COA Mixture, is part of the medicines that have been selected. This means that COA Mixture can now be prescribed in the various health facilities across the country.

“The Ministry of Health is counting on companies like yours to help promote the wellbeing of our people. Do not rest on

your oars until Ghana becomes the ultimate choice of plant medicine in Africa.”

On his part,  the minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Jojo Kyerematen, added that government is actively supporting companies to enhance their  quality standards to WHO global manufactory purchases standard so that we can export our products globally.

 According to him, currently, we have three companies that are working with governments to get to the level of WHO GMP standards and he hoped that very soon COA Research and Manufacturing company will also get into that category companies.

For him,  if Ghana focused on developing pharmaceutical products, including plants medical products, the potential for exports is very significant.

“Even if we don’t make 1% we make point 000 9%. It will help reduce our debt revenue and help us set for it, which is the only way we can support our plants,” he said.

“If 80% of the global population depends on plant medicine or herbal medicine, then it is important that Professor Ato Duncan and his colleagues who are researching and creating  innovative products then we should be interested and support them because it is the research development that create the business for us, that is why government is in full support of this medicine”, he stated.

COA Mixture, according to Professor Samuel Ato Duncan,  as a potent six-plant extract namely Azadirachtaindica, Carica papaya, Spondiasmombin,Vernoniaamygdalina,Ocimum, viride and Perseaamericana (Avocado).