The Innovative Cancer Medicines (ICM) initiative has started enrolling its first patient in Nigeria for a major project that provides an advanced immunotherapy treatment for cancer. The goal is to find practical methods to bring innovative immuno-oncology therapies to low- and middle-income countries, ensuring that these treatments are both sustainable and effective in real-world healthcare settings.
This ICM program is a joint effort between the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI), with support from Bristol Myers Squibb and Roche. The project is being carried out in partnership with the National Hospital Abuja, which is a top cancer care center in Nigeria known for its clinical skills and advanced medical care.
Sub-Saharan Africa has struggled with limited access to cancer treatments that are widely used in high-income countries. The region is heavily impacted by cancer, and the number of cancer-related deaths is expected to double by 2040. Colorectal cancer is a major concern, making up about 6.4 percent of all cancers in Nigeria and leading to nearly 5,900 deaths each year. The ICM initiative is specifically targeting this lack of care.
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Dr. Abubakar Bello, the Chief Consultant and Clinical and Radiation Oncologist at National Hospital Abuja and the project’s Principal Investigator, said the trial will show that Nigerian medical institutions can offer state-of-the-art diagnostics and treatments if they get the right support. Dr. Adekunle Iziaq Salako, Nigeria’s Honorable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, noted that this achievement proves Nigerian healthcare facilities can provide high-quality cancer care and create evidence to include advanced immunotherapies in the national health system. Dr. Olufunke Fasawe, Vice President of Integration and Country Director for CHAI Nigeria, added that the project shows how strong partnerships and smart health investments can bring advanced cancer treatments to places around the world with the same efficiency and quality.
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Over the next two years, the ICM partnership will help the National Hospital Abuja provide nivolumab, an immunotherapy drug already approved in many countries, to patients with cancers that are a major public health issue. The project will also look at how far the treatment can be scaled nationally, including the health system improvements needed. Sean Parker, Founder and Chairman of PICI, said offering life-saving therapies is a moral duty, and this project aims to show that top-quality treatments can be made available in low-resource areas, encouraging a bold global approach similar to the HIV treatment expansion in sub-Saharan Africa two decades ago. Jasmine Greenamyer, Vice President of Global Purpose and Patient Experience at Bristol Myers Squibb, said the company is committed to ensuring access to new treatments and supporting high-quality care in immuno-oncology for countries like Nigeria. Roberto Taboada, General Manager of Roche Nigeria, emphasized that cooperation between public and private sectors is crucial for expanding access to advanced treatments and expressed excitement about the positive impact this project will have on patients in Nigeria and the wider region.
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