Korede Abdullah in Lagos
A Nigerian researcher based in the United States, Patrick Chukwuemeka Okoye, PhD, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first person to receive a US patent for Modified Cassava Starch for Pharmaceutical Use in medicines.
The patent, numbered 12,133,918 B2, is titled “Partially Pre-gelatinized Cassava Starch as Pharmaceutical Excipient”.
Dr. Okoye’s innovation has the potential to transform the pharmaceutical industry, as his modified cassava starch has been shown to outperform other modified starches in medicines.
Additionally, his discovery reduces the cyanide contaminant in cassava to undetectable levels.
Dr. Okoye’s research journey began in 1990 during his pharmacy student days at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He later continued his research at Long Island University in New York, where he earned his PhD in Pharmaceutics in 2014.
The global market for modified starches, including pre-gelatinized starch, is projected to grow beyond $1 billion by 2030.
As Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cassava, Dr. Okoye’s innovation has the potential to benefit not only the pharmaceutical industry but also the Nigerian economy.
