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Development of Hepatitis Medication

Period

1992-2004

Main Collaborating Institutions

• University of Odense
  
  
• State Serum Institute
  
  
• Department of Chemistry, Menoufia University
  
  
• National Institute of Liver Diseases, Menoufia University
  
  
• Chemistry Department, Tanta University 

Principal Project Coordinators

Ibrahim Zeid

Chemistry Department
Faculty of Science
Menoufia University
Shebin El-Koam
Egypt

Tel: +20 48222753
Fax: +20 2777620
E-mail: IFZEID @ FRCU.EUN.EG

Erik Bjerregaard Pedersen

Department of Chemistry
Odense University
Campusvej 5
DK-5230 Odense M
Denmark

Tel: +45 65572555
Fax: +45 66158780
E-mail: EBP @ Chem.ou.dk

Project Description

The project aims at developing new antiviral drugs against hepatitis B and hepatitis C. For this purpose it is intended to establish autonomous research units in Egypt within chemistry for the synthesis of new drugs and within virology for testing new antiviral agents against hepatitis. Hepatitis is a global epidemic disease significantly more widespread in Africa and Asia than in Europe. In Egypt, approximately 10 percent of the population are carriers of hepatitis B and the mortality is about 15-40%. Studies have shown that 10-30% of the population is affected by hepatitis C. With regard to hepatitis C. A vaccine against hepatitis is available, but it is expensive, and there is no medication for patients already suffering from the disease. 

A research laboratory at the Department of Chemistry has been constructed and equiped with advanced relevant laboraty equipment which also permit the diagnostic of tuberculosis and chlamydia. 

It has been forseen that for the project period 2001-2004 further advanced equipment for separation and purification of new potential active compounds will be introduced. The chemists in Egypt will now implement international advanced frontline research in their laboratories. Intensive training in Denmark is no longer required. Instead, the resources will mainly be used for supplementary equipment and for building up a stock of consumerables. 

The strengthening of the research capacity in organic chemistry and virology continues, and the development of modern laboratories in drug research is supported. The library facilities at Menoufia University have been further developed to contain most of the journals in organic chemistry for more than 50 years. In Egypt 15 Ph.D. and 24 M.Sc. degrees have been awarded since the project started in 1992. 89 publi­cations were published during the years 1992-2003  in international scientific journals, many of them single-authored by Egyptian scientists, which reflects the work completed in Egypt. The project research has shifted from exclusively being directed towards the identification of drugs against hepatitis B to include methods and research facilities applicable within the area of other infectious diseases, including schistosomiasis. During the phasing out of the project the library facilities will be further improved and priority will be given to activities securing the sustainability of the developed research capacity. This will include establishing of a local Egyptian facility for DNA primer synthesis for PCR etc.

Further information: Development of Drugs Against Hepatitis Homepage