Nigeria Launches First Ever Immunotherapy Clinical Trial for Colorectal Cancer

Nigeria has taken a significant step in cancer care with the launch of its first immunotherapy clinical trial targeting colorectal cancer. The study began this week at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, marking a major milestone for cancer research in the country and sub-Saharan Africa.

The trial brings together medical experts and institutions both within Nigeria and abroad. Physicians and researchers from OAUTH collaborated with colleagues from Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Medserve’s NSIA Diagnostic Centre in Lagos, and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the United States to design and launch the study.

The focus of the research is a type of immunotherapy that harnesses the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer, specifically using a class of drugs that block PD-1 — a protein that helps cancer cells hide from immune attack. This therapy is being tested in patients whose tumours have a genetic feature called mismatch-repair deficiency, which is less responsive to traditional treatments like chemotherapy.

Colorectal cancer is a growing health concern in Nigeria, where survival rates remain low. Fewer than half of patients live beyond one year after diagnosis, partly because advanced treatment options have been limited.

The trial has received the necessary regulatory approvals from Nigeria’s National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC) and the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) — ensuring that the study meets ethical and safety standards.

The immunotherapy drug tislelizumab will be supplied by BeOne Medicines, and regulatory support is backed by BioVentures for Global Health. Patients eligible for the trial can enroll and receive treatment at no cost at the participating facilities in Osun and Lagos.

Officials hope this landmark trial will not only improve outcomes for Nigerian patients but also contribute valuable data that can shape cancer treatment across Africa.

Share to: