Ghana is advancing clinical research into URO 500, a locally developed herbal medicine for prostate health, through a collaboration involving the Centre for Plant Medicine Research (CPMR), Dodowa Health Research Centre and Atlantic Life Sciences Ltd.
The project forms part of the PharmaVax Ghana Research and Development Call for Proposals, which supports locally produced medical products. The clinical trial will assess the medicine’s safety and efficacy, generating evidence required to support its registration with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
“This collaboration will enable us to obtain the clinical evidence needed to make URO 500 a recognised natural treatment option with the potential for commercialisation and export.”
Dr Doris Kumadoh, Head of Production at CPMR
Researchers expect the work to strengthen confidence in a Ghanaian product, expand treatment options and create opportunities for commercialisation and export, while a second project examines a locally produced snake venom antiserum.
Dr Doris Kumadoh, Head of Production at CPMR, who spoke on the URO 500 project, explained that the collaboration would provide clinical evidence to establish the medicine’s suitability for wider use. She indicated that the research could position the product as a locally developed option for commercialisation and export, subject to the findings and regulatory requirements.
The project responds to the need for scientific evidence behind locally produced herbal medicines. Clinical evaluation is important to establish their safety and effectiveness before they are recommended for broader use.
Clinical evidence for locally developed URO 500
The team will use a clinical trial platform to examine URO 500. The research is particularly relevant to prostate disorders, which Dr Kumadoh identified as major causes of illness and death among men as they grow older.
“Pharmaceuticals Made in Ghana, for Ghana” She explained that CPMR focuses on investigating the health needs of people living in Ghana’s southern and coastal belts. Its research is intended to inform policy and improve healthcare practice.
The trial will connect local product development with clinical assessment. Any wider use of URO 500 will depend on the findings and necessary regulatory approval.
Research partnerships support pharmaceutical development
The URO 500 study is one of two projects being implemented through the Research and Development Call for Proposals by CPMR, in partnership with Dodowa Health Research Centre and Atlantic Life Sciences Ltd.
The initiative seeks to strengthen Ghana’s pharmaceutical industry by supporting research into locally developed medicines and other health products. Building domestic research and production capacity can improve access to healthcare products while supporting the growth of the pharmaceutical sector.
The work forms part of efforts to expand healthcare access through research, local production and stronger links between scientific institutions and industry across the country.
“Our research is focused on addressing the health needs of people in Ghana, particularly those in the southern and coastal belts, while generating evidence that can inform policy and improve healthcare practice.”
Dr Doris Kumadoh, Head of Production at CPMR
The second project examines a locally produced snake venom antiserum. Researchers will assess how long the product remains effective under different storage conditions, generating evidence to support its approval and improve availability for people who need it.
The studies address different stages of product development. URO 500 research will generate clinical evidence on safety and efficacy, while the antiserum project will establish evidence on product stability. Both aim to support regulatory processes and advance locally produced medical products.
PharmaVax Ghana backs local research
The projects are supported through the PharmaVax Ghana Research and Development Call for Proposals, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, together with the National Vaccine Institute Ghana (NVI).
The programme is jointly funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union in Ghana.
The support places research institutions and private sector partners at the centre of efforts to develop products for Ghana’s healthcare needs. It also provides a framework for collaboration between research organisations and industry in testing and advancing locally produced medical products.
For URO 500, the immediate task is to establish reliable clinical evidence for consideration by the FDA. Successful evaluation and regulatory approval could allow the herbal medicine to become more widely available in Ghana and potentially reach markets beyond the country.
The project does not presume the outcome of the trial. Its value lies in testing the product and producing evidence to guide decisions on its safety, efficacy and possible use.
Together, the projects demonstrate how targeted research support can advance local pharmaceutical development. By examining a herbal medicine for prostate health and the storage stability of snake venom antiserum, the partners are seeking to build an evidence base for Ghanaian medical products and strengthen the country’s capacity to research and produce them.
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