Kemri moves to introduce cheaper plant-based medicines
Among the medicines being developed is a plant-based therapy for hypertension that contains high levels of calcium salts, as well as immune-boosting herbal supplements.
The Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) is preparing to roll out a range of plant-based medicinal products aimed at cutting healthcare costs and expanding treatment options for patients.
The institute said the herbal-based products under development are cheaper because their active ingredients occur naturally in abundance, lowering production costs and reducing the need for extensive synthetic manufacturing and costly trials compared to patented drugs.
Some of the products have already shown encouraging outcomes in initial studies.
Among the medicines being developed is a plant-based therapy for hypertension that contains high levels of calcium salts, as well as immune-boosting herbal supplements.
The institute is also finalising preparations for clinical trials on an oral, non-hormonal contraceptive made from the mturituri plant (Commiphora africana).
Jeremiah Gathirwa, the acting director of Kemri’s Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, said these projects are designed to preserve traditional knowledge while creating a new line of evidence-based herbal products to be dispensed together with conventional drugs.
“We are establishing an alternative medicine pharmacy where evidence-based herbal products can be dispensed alongside conventional drugs,” he told the Business Daily.
Currently, about 3.4 million women in Kenya use contraceptives every year, and demand is rising for non-hormonal and reversible options.
Unlike hormonal contraceptives that are often linked to side effects such as weight gain, irregular bleeding, and mood changes, the plant-based alternatives being developed by Kemri are non-hormonal, reversible, and effective.
Hypertension, which affects nearly one in four adults in Kenya, is another major target for the new products.
Treatment with conventional drugs costs patients between Sh1,000 and Sh3,000 a month, pushing many to seek cheaper herbal solutions.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, research shows that around 39 percent of patients with hypertension already use plant-based remedies either alone or together with prescribed medicines.
Other products expected to be introduced include immune boosters for people with weakened immunity, a herbal treatment for prostate pain, and an antimicrobial mouthwash derived from local medicinal plants.
