BAYLABS Pty Ltd is a South African company, founded in 1999, operating in a specific sector of the pharmaceutical market. The BAYLABSTM team has high level multi-disciplinary expertise comprising of medical, scientific, pharmaceutical, legal and marketing personnel. The company develops, manufactures and commercialises nutraceutical products from plants (phytomedicines). Most products are derived from plants that are indigenous to, or abundant in, South Africa.
In 2004, BAYLABSTM won the TT100 award for Research and Development, South Africa’s most prestigious business award, honouring Professor MC Botha’s development of novel extracts from Aloe ferox and BAYLABSTM innovative and ground breaking research into the medicinal applications of these extracts.
BAYLABSTM was subsequently awarded R4.5 million to conduct second-round trials into a remedy for HIV-AIDS related diarrhoea, following a successful clinical trial in 2004. This trial was done in collaboration with the Medical Research Council of South Africa.
BAYLABSTM core competencies and skills
- Understanding of phytomedicines, especially those derived from the aloe plant
- Research and development in medicinal plants
- Intellectual property management
- Medical knowledge
- Positioning of brands
PROF. MC BOTHA – MB.CHB., FRC PATH (U.K.)
Prof. Botha was the immunologist on Chris Barnard’s pioneering heart transplant team in 1967, which successfully transplanted the first human heart. In 1978 he became Professor of Haematology at Medunsa University, Pretoria. Alongside his medical achievements, his knowledge of the botanical world was prodigious. MC, as he was known to his friends, was a Chairman of the Botanical Society Council and Chairman of the National Botanical Gardens, (later the National Botanical Institute).
In 1986 Prof. Botha was involved in establishing the first Aloe feroxprocessing plant in South Africa. He combined his medical and botanical interests and carried out extensive research into the botanical, biochemical and medicinal properties of the Aloe feroxplant, culminating in his unique patent – a process for the production of a useable gel extract from Aloe ferox, previously not possible. During this time he formed a new company, Simply Aloe. In January 2002, Delfini Solutions acquired the Simply Aloe brand and are now recognised as the premier cosmetic Aloe range in South Africa, as well as proving themselves in the international market.
In 1998 a second process patent was filed, this time for a high dietary-fibre extract from the leaves of Aloe ferox. It was correctly assumed that there would be a demand for a safe product that could replace the increasing lack of fibre in the Western diet.
During his investigation into the traditional uses of Aloe ferox, Prof. Botha identified a small number of arthritis sufferers in a particular geographical area and documented their use of Aloe ferox in the control of their symptoms. BAYLABSTM used this information, together with the information on the biochemical makeup of the local Aloes and specialised formulation techniques, to obtain a patent for the use of Aloe ferox in the treatment of arthritis.
In 1999, together with Allan Taylor, he started the company, BAYLABSTM.
ALLAN TAYLOR – B. PHARM. M. PHARM. M.P.S. P.C.D.T.
Allan Taylor is a Pharmacist, Primary Care Drug Therapist and Scientist in the field of Phytopharmacology. He has a special interest in the gastro-intestinal applications of indigenous herbs and plants. Allan worked closely with Prof. MC Botha and developed the ALOX HEALTHTM range of products. He subsequently developed the now internationally patented BAYLABSTM formulation, AT-402, which has applications in HIV/AIDS Related Diarrhoea, Infantile Diarrhoeal Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Allan has been responsible for the direction and supervision of the research and development that has enabled BAYLABSTM to become the premier 1st generation biotechnology company in South Africa. As the Managing Director of BAYLABSTM he remains the Pharmacist responsible for maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards of the company for both existing and future product R&D.