In this exclusive interview with Pharmanews, Mrs Chinenye Okoronkwo, head of marketing, Consumer Products, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc, talks about stress and why she considers Homtamin Ginseng Capsule the most effective remedy for combating it. Excerpts:
Tell us a bit about Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc
Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc is a public quoted company with the Nigerian Stock Exchange. As a foremost indigenous, innovative Nigerian company with global perspectives, the company is involved in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of quality pharmaceuticals and veterinary products in over 20 therapeutic product ranges in Nigeria, West Africa and internationally. The company is the resultant company from the Mazi Sam I. Ohuabunwa led Management-Buy-Out of the 60 per cent equity holding of Pfizer Incorporation, New York, USA, in Pfizer Products Plc, which took place in May 1997 when Pfizer Incorporation in pursuit of its global repositioning strategy, divested 60 per cent equity in Pfizer Products Plc. in favour of the existing management.
Tell us about Homtamin G Capsules. What exactly does it do and what prompted Neimeth to introduce it into the Nigerian market?
Homtamin G Capsules is an anti- stress formulation that comprises multivitamins, minerals, aloe extract and Korean ginseng extract, which work synergistically to reduce the effects of stress and its deleterious consequences as is the case with prolonged stress if left unmanaged. The most tasked vitamins during stress are B complex, Folic and Vitamin C. If these are replenished, they will relieve the weakness and debility that come with stress. So, Homtamin G Capsule is capable of controlling stress and its after-effects because it contains standardised ginseng extracts and minerals that are particularly tasked in the body when stressed.
Meanwhile, the products was introduced as part of our commitment towards the provision of a better quality of life for Nigerians through adequate management of stress. Also, having observed that the incidence of sudden death was becoming higher among top executives, probably as a result of the high level of responsibility placed on them through decision-making and risk-taking, we decided to introduce the product.
Tell us about the active ingredients in Homtamin G Capsule and what differentiates it from others products in its class in the Nigerian market.
Homtamin G Capsule comprises triterpenoid saponins collectively called Ginsenosides, which is believed to be the most important active constituents. It also has Korean Ginseng, which is very rich in Ginsenosides and this makes the product stand out among others in its therapeutic field. Korean Ginseng profile is essentially different from other stimulants. While others are active under most situations, Korean Ginseng reveals stimulatory action only under the challenges of stress.
Since the product was introduced, how has it been doing in the market and what is Neimeth doing to ensure it is not faked?
Within the first two years that Homtamin G Capsule was introduced into the Nigerian Market, it grew from 87 per cent to 383 per cent. It has maintained this positive growth trend since then, and more recently in 2017, it also grew by 145 percent, while it has also maintained an impressive achievement of targeted sales volumes.
Tell us about stress, its effects and how it can be managed.
Stress, in very simple terms, is anything that tends to create little disturbance in you. It does not matter how big or little it is, even something as insignificant as painful shoes, bad odour and the likes. However, medically, stress is the way our body responds to pressure and we can also define it as a situation in which everyday demands or tasks exceed our adjustive capacity. Examples of stress include financial, marital, work and health-related stress. We all have our ways of coping with change, so the causes of stress can be different for each person.
Stress can be either good or bad. Good stress positively compels people to action, e.g. to study for an exam, or a baby learning to crawl, whereas bad stress results in negative feelings such as distrust, anger and depression e.g. the death of a loved one. Bad stress can be acute or chronic and may lead to serious health problems or death.
Stress is a silent killer, but the good news is that it can be managed, and in managing it, it could be physical or mental. One can manage stress perfectly by engaging in physical exercise like football, and one can also engage in mental exercise like playing chess, scrabble and so on. These things are meant to remove your mind from what is worrying you and that is why doctors usually suggest this whenever people visit the hospital.
We also have relaxation, religious beliefs and conviction, and through counselling. It can also be managed by taking nutritional supplements, which come by way of multivitamin, minerals and antioxidants, just like we have in Homtamin Ginseng Capsule.
Tell us about some other major brands from Neimeth that are doing well in the market.
Nimartem, NCP and Ciklavit are other major brands from Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc that are well known in Nigeria and their rapidly growing popularity is due to their efficacy and reliability.Ciklavit is the first indigenous nutritional supplement for the management of sickle cell anaemia. A natural food extract with essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals, which is derived from a species of local beans known as cajanus cajan, it is endowed with potent anti-sickling properties that reduces frequency and severity of painful crises.
NCP is an antiseptic and also doubles as a disinfectant that contains halogenated phenols, sodium salicylate and phenolic compounds. Halogenated phenol possesses anti-microbial activity, while sodium salicylate has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect thus reducing pain, while Nimartem is an Artemisinin Combination Therapy that has Artemether and Lumefantrine as its active constituents and is indicated for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria.
