Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife, Osun State, has begun the country’s first clinical trial using immunotherapy to treat colorectal cancer.
The initiative, launched on Wednesday, aims to provide free treatment to patients at OAUTH, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and Medserve’s NSIA-Diagnostic Centre in Lagos.
Professor Olusegun Alatise, a Consultant General Surgeon at OAUTH and National Director of the African Research Group for Oncology, said the trial represents a major milestone for cancer treatment in sub-Saharan Africa.
“This is the first clinical trial in the region to utilise immunotherapy, which empowers the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer,” Alatise said. “Colorectal cancer continues to be a growing health challenge in Nigeria, with less than half of patients surviving beyond one year after diagnosis.”
The project is a collaboration between OAUTH, LUTH, Medserve, and the US-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre.
Alatise explained that the trial focuses on patients with mismatch-repair-deficient colorectal cancer and involves the use of PD-1 blockade, a cutting-edge immunotherapy drug.
“MSK investigators, as study sponsors and data coordinators, will work closely with our teams in Nigeria,” he said.
“BeOne Medicines will supply the immunotherapy drug, while BioVentures for Global Health has supported regulatory approvals in the country. This partnership brings global expertise directly to Nigerian patients.”
Alatise encouraged eligible patients to enroll at OAUTH, LUTH, or Medserve’s Lagos facility, emphasizing that treatment will be provided at no cost. The trial’s announcement coincided with this year’s World Cancer Day, observed on February 4, which highlights cancer prevention, detection, and treatment worldwide
“This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to advancing cancer care and ensuring patients have access to the best global research,” Alatise said.
