JB Pharmaceuticals Limited is one of Nigeria’s leading pharmaceutical companies engaged in the importation and distribution of various pharmaceutical products. The company prides itself in the supply of genuine pharmaceutical products for the well-being and health of Nigerian citizens. In this interview with Pride Magazine Nigeria, their National Sales Manager Marcel Udebuani tells us more about the company.
PRIDE MAGAZINE NIGERIA (PNG): JB Pharmaceuticals is well established in the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry. Can you tell us how and when the company was established?
JB PHARMACEUTICALS MARCEL UDEBUANI (JBPMU): JB Pharmaceuticals Limited was registered in 1997 and started the business of drug distribution from its Owerri office at No. 38 MCC Road, Owerri- Imo state Nigeria. The company later opened another office in Lagos at 40B, Commercial Avenue, Sabo, Yaba. We have sales and medical representatives in Abuja, as well as the South-East, South-West and South-South of the country, and intend to expand to the Northern states of Nigeria.
JB Pharmaceuticals registered its own generic brands with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and commenced importation, marketing and distribution of her own brand of Pharmaceutical products.
PNG: What range of pharmaceutical products does the company offer?
JBPMU: JB Pharmaceuticals Ltd has wide range of Pharmaceutical products, including:
- Anti-bacteria: Arcerin (Cefixime), Buroxim (Cefuroxime), Butromax (Azithromycin) and Celevox ( Levofloxacin)
- Anti-diabetic: Forminec (Metformin), Libenclom (Glibenclamide), Francimin-G (Metformin+ Glicazide)
- Gelovit Series: Multivitamin+Mineral+ Amino Acid
- Iron Preparation: Irnofol Syrup
- Anti-hypertensive: Losargen (Losarten Potassium)
- Anti- Histamin: Fenodin ( Fexafenodine).
- Anti-Cold: Bucold
- Anti-Arthritis: Bonecare (Glocosamine+ Chondrotin + Omega 3 Fish Oil), Buclomen Cream (Diclofenac + Olium linin + Menthol and Methylsalicilate)
- Nutriceuticals: Nutricelo (Eveningprimrose Oil)
PNG: Which countries manufacture the products the company imports and sells?
JBPMU: India and Bangladesh
PNG: Many horror stories abound about substandard pharmaceutical goods been manufactured and sent to Nigeria. How does JB Pharmaceuticals ensure that products imported are of the right standard and quality?
JBPMU: JB Pharmaceuticals Ltd makes sure that all the companies we are dealing with are certified by the World Health Organization (WHO) and NAFDAC approved. We also go the extra mile from time to time to send our products for analysis at the Lagos State Drug Analytical Unit in the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja. We also pay routine visits to the companies where our drugs are manufactured to ensure that standards are maintained.
PNG: What are the company’s plans for further growth?
JBPMU: We have plans to expand our present range of products and even considering establishing a local manufacturing plant in Nigeria in partnership with foreign companies.
PNG: JB Pharmaceuticals is one of the sponsors of Pride Women Conference 2018. What range of products does the company deal in that are targeted to the particular needs of women?
JBPMU: We have products such as Nutricelo Capsules (Evening Primrose oil), Irnofol Syrup (an iron
preparation), Bonecare capsules and Buclomen Cream (for arthritis) and Gelovit series (vitamins and minerals).
PNG: A pharmaceutical company like yours has a number of pharmacists in your employ. Would you encourage a young person facing the dilemma of which course of study to pursue at university to study pharmacy and why?
JBPMU: Yes, because there are many opportunities that are open to young pharmacists like community pharmacy practice, industrial pharmacy practice, pharmacy in academia and hospital pharmacy practice.
PNG: What does the study of pharmacy entail and what are the job opportunities and career pathways for pharmacy graduates in Nigeria?
JBPMU: Pharmacy is a professional course and science-based, therefore anybody intending to be a pharmacist must be science inclined. There are many career opportunities that are open in pharmaceutical and allied industries. Pharmaceutical research institutes and faculties of pharmacy in many Nigeria universities offer postgraduate courses in pharmacy, as well as business courses related to pharmacy such as Medical Sales Representative and community pharmacy practice.