On the 3rd of February CSIR announced the six Traditional Health practitioners (THP’s) that were assisted in developing safe and standardised traditional medicine for commercialisation, in a project that was funded by the Department of Science and Innovation.
Amongst the selected THP’s was PriJab, a tenant company at The Innovation Hub. PriJab produces a herbal liquid with antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties that strengthen the Immune system, increase energy and appetite. Since participating in the programme, PriJab has grown at a remarkable rate and now employs four interns to match market demands.
Additionally, the programme provided the selected traditional health practitioners with relevant skills and knowledge on how to start a business and commercialise indigenous products. To provide this training, Innovation Hub, BioPark and the CoachLab Entrepreneurship Programme collaborated to provide knowledge content that covered subjects on business, finance, marketing, leadership and operations skills. The programme also explored the trademark of product logos in South Africa and through the South African Bureau of Standard Design Institute Product, introduced the subject on branding and commercialization of natural products in South Africa.
Prijap Founder and Managing director, Prince Msomi had much to say about the benefits that the programme has made on his company: “I am so grateful for this programme which has played a significant role in shaping my journey which started in 2005. Much of my knowledge today and the product I have managed to develop to this point comes from my grandfather. This traditional medicine has been in the family since the early 1900. With the help of the CSIR, in-vitro studies were done and proved that the product has the ability to perform three of the following activities: act as an immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and has Anti-oxidant properties. I also want to give thanks to the DSI for their continued support.”
For more information on Prijab biolife click here.
