My aim is to support patients battling various health conditions globally – Onu Chukwu
Onu Emmanuel Chukwu, a chemist at Cambrex in Charles City, Iowa, USA, says his mission is to support patients battling various health conditions globally. “My mission is to support patients battling various health conditions globally by playing a direct and active role in drug development and manufacturing,” he said in an interview. Chukwu, when asked […]
Onu Emmanuel Chukwu, a chemist at Cambrex in Charles City, Iowa, USA, says his mission is to support patients battling various health conditions globally.
“My mission is to support patients battling various health conditions globally by playing a direct and active role in drug development and manufacturing,” he said in an interview.
Chukwu, when asked why he has a keen interest in drug development, replied as follows.
“A lot of lethal chronic diseases face humanity,” he began, his tone both resolute and reflective. Despite decades of research, they continue to claim millions of lives. But science is catching up, and we’re closer than ever to breakthroughs that could change everything.”
Chukwu is directly involved in the large-scale production of critical drug substances and drug products. His role encompasses nearly every phase of production, ensuring the quality, purity, safety, delivery, and potency of medicines that reach patients globally, in accordance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines and the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) guidelines.
But beyond his role at Cambrex, Chukwu is also a published scientist with a growing body of peer-reviewed work. His publications, both as lead and contributing author, delve into complex natural products targeted for diabetes and the chemistry of platinum compounds for therapeutic effects in support of patients with cancer.
Chukwu says his scientific focus in the future is targeted towards nature-based drug discovery.
He said, “One of my future goals is to utilize active ingredients from plants and other natural sources; these natural compounds will serve as the foundation for safer and more effective drugs, especially for managing chronic illnesses like diabetes and diabetes comorbidity.”
Chukwu is a firm believer in translational medicine, the process of turning lab discoveries into therapies. Chukwu’s knowledge also extends into the realm of platinum-based chemotherapeutics.
These are widely used in the treatment of various cancers but often come with side effects such as killing of healthy cells, severe kidney problems, decreased immunity to infection, gastrointestinal disorders, hemorrhage, loss of hearing, among others.
Chukwu, in his words, stated, “Using my background in platinum chemistry,” he explained, “I’m working to design and synthesize alternative platinum compounds in the future that will offer better, anti-cancer potency with little or no side effects.”
The goal is always to improve patient health without compromising their quality of life. His work is timely because, according to the World Health Organization, non-communicable diseases like cancer and diabetes account for nearly 70% of global deaths.
With rising healthcare demands and an aging population, researchers like Chukwu play a vital role in shaping the pharmaceutical industry and contributing to the development and discovery of numerous drugs that improve patients’ health. What sets him apart, however, is not just his technical skill but a strong sense of purpose.
“The real reward,” he says, “is knowing that something I am working on may help someone regain their health or even their life.” As global health systems grapple with both old and emerging threats, scientists like Onu Emmanuel Chukwu remind us that behind every life-saving drug is a story of dedication, discovery, and hope.