From Novice to Innovation: Dr. Emmanuel Mintah Bonkus's Odyssey of Discovery

In the midst of the ongoing global health crisis, a remarkable tale of resilience, determination, and innovation has emerged from China, centered around a Ghanaian scholar who is rewriting the narrative of a global epidemic. Meet Dr. Emmanuel Mintah Bonku [1], a brilliant and dedicated scholar from Ghana, who has devoted his research to finding a solution to the devastating monkeypox virus that has claimed hundreds of lives worldwide.

As the global health community grapples with the ongoing monkeypox potential pandemic [2], a constellation of symptoms has been observed, including lymphadenopathy, fever, headache, chills, sore throat, muscle ache, fatigue, and rash, with potential complications such as pneumonitis, encephalitis, keratitis, and secondary bacterial infections. The disease is transmitted primarily through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated objects as well as person-to-person contact via respiratory secretions, skin lesions, genitals, and prolonged face-to-face contact [3]. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Mpox Outbreak Global report as of June 12, 2024, a total of 97,281 cases have been recorded, resulting in over 184 deaths [4]. This surge in cases has reignited interest in the development of countermeasures.

It was against this backdrop that Dr. Mintah embarked on a quest to find a solution to this global health crisis. As part of his doctoral research, he dedicated himself to investigating the research process and development of drugs targeting antiviral inhibitors.

During his doctoral studies, Dr. Mintah initially faced a significant challenge: his lack of organic synthesis experimental skills, stemming from an environmental science background. However, recognizing the transformative power of diligence in overcoming shortcomings, he was confident that he could compensate for this gap through perseverance and dedication. Despite this obstacle, Dr. Mintah remained undeterred, utilizing the lockdown imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to intensify his studies. He diligently engaged in reading and reviewing relevant research papers, synthesizing his learnings into comprehensive reports that significantly contributed to the development of his scientific research acumen in the field.

Following the lockdown, Dr. Mintah took his next step towards bridging the gap in his skills by meticulously replicating the operational methods demonstrated by his Chinese colleagues. These rigorous experiments served as a valuable reference point, boosting his experimental skills and confidence in his abilities.

After months of relentless experiments, Dr. Mintah faced numerous setbacks, including multiple failed attempts and operational steps that persistently presented difficulties in achieving satisfactory compound quality and concentration. Despite these challenges, he gradually came to realize the paramount importance of patience and resilience in the field of drug synthesis research. It was only after months of unwavering dedication that Dr. Mintah made a groundbreaking discovery. He successfully developed a novel method for the preparation of the key intermediate, cycloheptatriene, through the incorporation of reactive distillation and unconventional synthesis methodologies.

This innovative technique not only eliminated safety hazards and enhanced reaction selectivity but also mitigated the challenges associated with low yield, which were typically encountered in high-temperature thermal isomerization–ring expansion reactions. Subsequent to the successful Diels-Alder reaction, the process proceeded with a single step, involving the condensation of anhydride and benzohydrazine intermediates [5]. This strategic move enabled the production of the final drug substance. By meticulously identifying and analyzing related impurities in the production process [6], Dr. Mintah engineered an efficient and viable solution for the large-scale synthesis of the tecovirimat drug substance, ultimately producing over 150 kilograms of the active pharmaceutical ingredient. This achievement was made possible through his active participation in industrial cooperation, which provided technical support for tecovirimat's registration application under Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA).

In a concurrent endeavor, Dr. MINTAH's ingenuity sparkled in the research and development of benzimidazole routes of synthesis. He demonstrated the versatility of his novel synthesis methodology through a concise cyclization approach with cutting-edge reaction materials, generating new ideas for the synthesis of antihypertensive and anthelmintic drugs [7].

His research findings have been published in three SCI papers in internationally renowned journals, including Organic Process Research & Development (OPRD), RSC Advances, and Heliyon, with one paper being selected as the cover feature article in OPRD. Moreover, he has co-authored seven articles of significant academic value and serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Food Science.

Notably, Dr. MINTAH's outstanding achievements have been recognized by the prestigious University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, which conferred upon him the distinction of Outstanding International Graduate [8]. Dr. MINTAH has actively engaged in numerous international conferences and seminars, delivering thought-provoking speeches and presentations that have garnered widespread attention from industry experts. His research findings were showcased in poster presentations at the 4th Annual "New Discovery Drugs" Academic Conference, drawing significant interest from the scientific community.

Dr. MINTAH's groundbreaking discovery has inspired a new generation of African scientists to pursue careers in drug discovery and research development, while he remains committed to optimizing the synthesis and refinement of novel compounds in his research group, he is also dedicated to facilitating the registration of these innovative drugs in Ghana, leveraging the work already produced by his professor (supervisor).

His unwavering vision of harnessing innovative solutions to make a positive impact is a testament to his dedication. As a shining example of determination, collaboration, and innovation overcoming global challenges, Dr. MINTAH's journey illuminates the path forward for those affected by pandemics and inspires future generations to pursue their dreams with courage and perseverance. His remarkable story is a powerful reminder that even in adversity, there is always hope, and that African scholars can make a significant impact on the world stage, etching his name in history as a shining example of African excellence in science and drug discovery.

References:
[1] www.researchgate.net/profile/Emmanuel-Mintah-Bonku

[2] Shomuyiwa D O, Emery M. "Monkeypox virus declared as a global health emergency: What next for Africa's preparedness?." J. Travel Med, 2023, 53: 102577.

[3] Huang Y, Li M, Wei W. "Monkeypox: epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment and prevention", Signal Transduct. Target. Ther. 2022, 7(1): 1-22.

[4] https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/response/2022/world-map.html (accessed on June 25th,

2024).
[5] Bonku E M, Qin H, Odilov A, Yang F, Xing X, Wang X, Shen J. Efficient large-scale process for tecovirimat via reactive distillation for the preparation of cycloheptatriene, Org. Process Res. Dev., 2023, 27(11):1984–1991.

[6] Bonku E M, Qin H, Odilov A, Abduahadi S, Guma S D, Yang F, Xing X, Wang X, Shen J. Impurity Study of Tecovirimat, Heliyon. 2024, 10 (9), e29559.

[7] Bonku E M, Qin H, Odilov A, Abduahadi S, Guma S D, Yang F, Zhu F, Aisa H A, Shen J. Improved and ligand-free copper-catalyzed cyclization for an efficient synthesis of benzimidazoles from o-bromoarylamine and nitriles, RSC advances, 2024, 14(10):6906-16.

[8] https://www.ucas.ac.cn/tz/f3134b42c5624d5a9700d1e58a5a6990.htm (accessed on June 25th,)