The Monekosso room of the Faculty of Medicine hosted this Wednesday, December 15, 2021, a scientific press conference on the Presentation of the results of the randomized, controlled clinical trial of Doubase C for the therapeutic care of COVID-19 patients in Kinshasa.

Of high scientific significance, this ceremony was attended by five Ministers as well as other personalities:

1. The Minister of State, Minister of Entrepreneurship, Small and Medium Enterprises, Eustache Muhanzi Mumbembe.
2. The Minister of National Defence and Veterans Affairs, General Gilbert Kabanda Kurhenga.
3. The Minister of Higher and University Education, Muhindo Nzangi Mutondo.
4. The Minister of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation, Jose Mpanda Kabangu
5. The Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya Kayembe.
6. The Special Advisor to the Head of State in charge of universal health coverage.
7. The representative of the Chinese Embassy.
8. The head of the WHO office in the DRC.
9. The Rector and the management committee of the University of Kinshasa.

After the welcoming speech from the Rector of the University of Kinshasa, the Professor Jean-Marie Kayembe Ntumba, proud to present Doubase C as an “in-house product”; this was followed by a word from the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, the Professor Roger Mbungu Mwimba, delighted that his faculty was contacted to conduct the clinical trials of Doubase C, which meets one of the faculty's missions: to be of service to the community.

Four richly scientific presentations made up the bulk of this ceremony:

• Presentation of Hydroxychloroquine by the Professor Roger Wumba Di-Mosi.
• Presentation of Doubase C by the Dr. Kabwe Mwilambue.
• Presentation of the Doubase C clinical trial protocol by the Sengi Works Manager Ntamabualiro.
• Presentation of the results by the Professor Mandina Ndona.

Indeed, Doubase C is a broad-spectrum antiviral drug derived from a mixture of plant extracts of Uvaria brevistipitata De Wild and of Harungana sp., two plants whose extracts have been used for thousands of years in traditional Congolese African pharmacopoeia. The antiviral properties of these two plant extracts were evaluated in in vitro and in vivo pharmacological and toxicological tests on HIV.

The primary objective of this clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy of Doubase C. The secondary objectives were to compare the clinical histories of patients receiving Doubase C and those receiving the Hydroxychloroquine + Azithromycin combination, to evaluate their virological efficacy and to assess the safety of these products.

The preliminary results of these trials demonstrated that Doubase C, in addition to its antiretroviral and anti-enteroviral activity, proved effective in the treatment of SARS-COV-2 Coronavirus infection; which confirms its broad-spectrum antiviral activity. The virtual absence of toxicity and side effects at therapeutic doses makes it possible to recommend this drug in the fight against SARS-COV-2 infection and a radical solution in the management of COVID-19.

Lively exchanges between participants and various speakers fueled the debates.

Other speakers spoke briefly:

• THE Professor Jean-Robert Makulo Rissassy, Physician-Director of the University Clinics of Kinshasa, who acted as Principal Investigator in the clinical trials of Doubase C.
• The Minister of National Defense and Veterans Affairs, General Gilbert Kamanda Kurhenga, who spoke as Chairman of the Management Board of the CREPPAT Laboratory (Center for Research in Phytotherapy, African Pharmacopoeia and Pharmaceutical Technology), whose team he presented.

The notable absentee from this ceremony is the initiator of this research, the Pharmacist Constantin Bashengezi Mihigo who is continuing his investigations in South Africa. He was duly represented by his wife, Maman Prudence.

This is a revolution in scientific research in the DRC. Doubase C is a scientifically proven drug following the imposed international protocol.

 The closing remarks from the Rector of Unikin marked the end of the ceremony.