By Hassan Ibrahiim
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Niraparib Clinical Trial for Ovarian Cancer is a collaborative research between ABU Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) and Selvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Health System(USA).
The event was graced by the Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), CMD, FUHSA, Director General, National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT)
ABUTH Top Management Committee, Co-Investigators, Research Staff , Collaborators, and Members of the Press
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