By Hassan Ibrahim
The Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, has recorded a major breakthrough in cancer research with the official unveiling of Nigeria's first clinical trial of Niraparib, a life-extending drug for women living with advanced ovarian cancer.
The landmark study, launched at the hospital's main auditorium in Shika, Zaria, is designed specifically for women of African ancestry and aims to address decades of underrepresentation of Black women in global cancer research.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the Chief Medical Director of ABUTH and Principal Investigator of the study, Professor Ahmed Hamisu Umdagas, described ovarian cancer as a "silent killer" that disproportionately affects Black women, who are often diagnosed late and experience poorer survival outcomes than other populations.
He revealed that less than five percent of participants in global ovarian cancer clinical trials are Black women, creating a significant gap in medical evidence and treatment outcomes for African patients.
Professor Ahmed explained that the multinational study will recruit 70 women across three countries, including 40 participants in the United States, 20 at ABUTH in Nigeria, and 10 in the Bahamas.
According to him, the trial will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and metabolism of Niraparib when used as maintenance therapy following first-line treatment for advanced ovarian cancer.
He noted that while global studies have shown promising results for the drug, African women deserve medical evidence generated from populations that reflect their own genetic and clinical realities.
"Today, we are writing our own history. Africa will no longer wait for answers from elsewhere; Africa will contribute answers to the world," he said.
Professor Umdagas assured prospective participants that the trial would be conducted under the highest international standards of science, ethics, and patient safety, adding that all treatments, investigations, and follow-up procedures would be provided free of charge.
He disclosed that the complete treatment package for each patient is valued at more than nine thousand dollars, but participants enrolled in the trial would receive the medication and all related care at no cost.
International collaborator and cancer specialist from the University of Miami, Professor Matthew Schlumbrecht, praised the partnership, noting that PARP inhibitors such as Niraparib have transformed ovarian cancer care globally but that women of African ancestry have largely been excluded from earlier studies.
He emphasized that Africa is projected to witness an 87 percent increase in ovarian cancer cases before 2040, making access to innovative therapies and participation in clinical research increasingly urgent.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Med Cell, Tolulope Adewale, described the initiative as a new era for healthcare in Africa, stressing the importance of testing medicines among African populations rather than relying solely on foreign data.
He said the study would help guarantee equitable access to quality cancer care regardless of social status or geographical location.
Clinical and Radiation Oncologist, Professor Bello Abubakar Muhammad, explained that Niraparib has the potential to transform ovarian cancer management by prolonging remission and significantly improving survival outcomes among patients who often present late for treatment.'
Also speaking, Dr. Aisha Mustafa, a Gynecologic Oncology Fellow at ABUTH, described the initiative as a landmark achievement not only for the hospital but also for Nigeria and the African continent.
She explained that Niraparib has never been officially used in Nigeria before and that the clinical trial provided an opportunity for eligible patients to access the medication free of charge for up to two years.
According to her, the drug recently received regulatory approval and import permits, and has already arrived in Nigeria for use in the study.
Dr. Mustafa noted that if the trial proves successful among Nigerian women, participants may receive an additional two years of treatment support from the manufacturers.
The trial, conducted in partnership with the University of Miami and institutions in the Bahamas, marks a significant milestone for Nigerian medical research and positions ABUTH as a leading centre for multinational and race-specific clinical investigations in Africa.
For many women battling ovarian cancer across the continent, the launch signals not only access to life-saving treatment but also renewed hope that cancer no longer has to be a death sentence.
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