By Sola Charles
Nigeria has launched a new push to expand access to advanced medical treatments positioning gene therapy and other frontier technologies as central to the country’s long-term medicine security strategy.
Outlining the development in Abuja during a high-level engagement involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, global non-profit Caring Cross, and key research and industry partners, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said Nigeria is moving deliberately to close the gap between scientific discovery and patient access, particularly in areas where life-saving treatments remain out of reach for many.
Salako said the Tinubu led administration is prioritising health innovation as part of its broader efforts to strengthen national resilience, drive local production, and reduce dependence on external supply chains.
At the centre of the discussions was the potential introduction of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, an advanced form of treatment showing promise in managing conditions such as sickle cell disease and certain blood cancers.
While widely explored in other regions, CAR-T therapy remains largely inaccessible across Africa, and changing this reality requires deliberate investment in research, partnerships, and the systems needed to translate innovation into real-world care.
“Our goal is clear, to ensure that breakthroughs in science are not distant concepts, but accessible solutions for Nigerians,” he said.
The engagement also highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing pharmaceutical and research reforms, anchored by the Presidential Initiative on Vaccine and Biologicals Production (PVAC), aimed at strengthening local manufacturing, expanding vaccine and biological production, and building a more coordinated innovation ecosystem.
The Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom represented by the Director, Health Planning, Research & Statistics, described the meeting as a convergence of science, policy, and opportunity.
Kaxhollom noted that emerging fields such as gene therapy and regenerative medicine are redefining modern healthcare and present an important opportunity for Nigeria to leapfrog traditional limitations in access to treatment.
“Partnerships like this are critical to ensuring that innovation translates into sustainable improvements in our health system,” she said.
Caring Cross CEO, Dr. Boro Dropulic, highlighted the organisation’s work in expanding access to cellular and gene therapies globally, with a focus on affordability and scalability in low- and middle-income countries.
He pointed to the rising burden of genetic and blood-related diseases in Nigeria, particularly among children, as a compelling case for accelerating access to next-generation treatments.
The Director-General of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NOPRID), Dr. Obi Adigwe, outlined steps already taken to position Nigeria as a leader in pharmaceutical research and development on the continent.
These include securing major international research funding, strengthening regional collaboration, and advancing infrastructure for local production of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Asigwe noted that Nigeria is increasingly adopting a coordinated, multi-sector approach that brings together government institutions, research bodies, and global partners to drive innovation at scale.
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