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Her Excellency, Mrs. Joyce Banda, the
President of the Republic of Malawi, announced today that an
agreement has been reached to open an outpatient's clinic at
Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital for the treatment of cancer
and infectious
diseases with US-based biotech firms
TNI BioTech, Inc. [PINKSHEETS: TNIB] (TNIB)
and GB Oncology & Imaging Group LLC (GBOIG).
The World Health Organization estimates that chronic
infectious diseases cause more than 20 percent of all
cancers in the world, including liver, cervical and gastric
malignancies. Infection-related cancers are more frequent
and often more severe in people infected with HIV. Cancer
patients in Malawi have had abysmal survival rates due to
lack of access to early diagnosis and treatment.
President Mrs. Joyce Banda, a long time advocate for women’s
rights in the areas of health, education and gender equality
continues her fight to provide adequate access to effective
treatment for cancer and infectious diseases in
Malawi; today cancer is almost a death sentence due to a
lack of care.
President
Banda has taken the first step in reversing this problem by
signing an agreement with TNIB and GBOIG
to open an outpatient clinic for the treatment of cancer,
HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases at Queen Elizabeth Central
Hospital within the coming months.
At the clinic TNIB and GBOIG will deliver both
conventional and alternative therapies; including safer,
more effective cancer therapies, new-targeted drug therapies
and minimally
invasive surgical alternatives.
Some of the leaders in the field of immunology and oncology
have joined TNIB and GBOIG in their endeavor such as Dr.
Ronald Herberman, TNIB’s Chief Medical Officer and the
founding director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer
Institute (UPCI) as well as the UPMC Cancer Center. Advisory
Board
Member, Dr. Dalgleish was appointed Foundation Chair of
Oncology
at St. George’s University of London in 1991. Dr. Ndiouga
Dieng, a graduate from Howard University, holds the position
of Senior Pharmacy Manager
at John Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore).
The main objectives of the collaboration between TNIB/GBOIG
and Dr. Leo Masamba, one of the only oncologists in Malawi,
are to improve access and delivery of clinical care to
patients with cancer and infection-related cancers, better
understand the link between infectious diseases and cancer,
and train the next generation of Malawi-US physicians and
scientists to combat infection-associated cancers at home
and abroad.
Ultimately, the mandate of the new facility for outpatient
cancer care, education and research will allow
TNIB/GBOIG to:
• Provide first-rate cancer care in Malawi
a country of about 16 million citizens suffering from
one of the highest cancer rates in the world
in order to improve survival rates for most
common cancers under the available therapies from 10 percent
to 90 percent, saving an estimated 5,000 lives each year.
• Study the interaction between infections and cancer by
promoting cutting-edge research aimed at pathophysiology,
prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infection-related
cancers in Africa.
• Improve the quality of medical education in oncology and
increase the number of cancer specialists in Malawi.
As part of the Agreement, the Government of Malawi has
agreed to make space available in the Queen Elizabeth
Central Hospital where TNIB/GBOIG will retrofit the facility
and start the operation of an outpatient oncology and
infectious disease clinic within 6 months; this Phase I will
begin in November of 2012 with the aim to have the clinic
operational by March of 2013. This clinic will include a CT
Scan, an
X-Ray Room, a 10 chair infusion chemo-therapy and immune
rehabilitating therapy clinic, a sterile room, all related
medical supplies, an electronic medical record system and
other medical services. In an effort to provide treatment
immediately we will initiate the treatment of 10,000 women
and children a day for cancer, HIV/AIDS and infectious
diseases using IRT-103 LDN, and expand to 250,000-500,000
patients over time.
Phase II is focused at adding the necessary Radiation
Oncology treatments. The radiation department will be
managed by an experienced radiation oncology team and will
provide the most advanced technology we can offer aimed at
providing the highest chance for healing and recovery; the
objective has been set to have Phase II within 12 months.
Dr. Gloria Herndon, President & Managing Member
of GBOIG stated
“Though cultural change is achieved very slowly, we
strongly believe that IRT-103 (LDN) can serve to literally
save millions of lives within
a relatively short time.”
“We believe this is an important step forward as there is an urgent
need in Malawi for readily available, safe and effective
treatments that can hopefully increase the life span and
improve the quality of life for millions of cancer and
HIV/AIDS infected patients.”
“Having a healthy population is essential for the fabric
and stability of the nation.” “It is imperative to provide
care to the people of Malawi in need of care”,
said President Banda.
“It’s also the right thing to do.”
“There can be no greater mandate in cancer treatment and
research than to wage the fight by doing the right thing.”
For more information contact:
Dr. Gloria Herndon
gbherndon@gbiogltd.com
Dr. Ndiouga Dieng:
nd@gbiogltd.com |