Nigeria Targets Breakthrough In Gene Therapy Through Global Health Partnerships

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, has reaffirmed the commitment of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to strengthening scientific capacity and translating emerging technologies into impactful treatments for Nigerians.

Salako made this known in Abuja during a ministerial engagement with a delegation from Caring Cross, a United States-based non-governmental organisation and other international partners. The delegation was led by the director-general of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Dr Obi Adigwe.

He noted that President Tinubu has placed high priority on health innovation and contextual research, highlighting key initiatives such as the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) and the Presidential Executive Order on the Pharmaceutical Sector.

The minister noted that these reforms are already catalysing health security, economic growth, and job creation through evidence-based policy reforms and value-chain transformation.

“These novel interventions reflect the administration’s determination to synergise government, industry, academia, and community efforts. The Ministry’s mandate is to ensure institutional coordination, foster collaboration, and drive innovation that directly improves the health and wellbeing of Nigerians, in partnership with organisations like Caring Cross,” he said.

He added that under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria has embraced an all-of-government and increasingly all-of-Africa approach to health innovation, enabling stronger partnerships and improved access to cutting-edge technologies.

“These skills are indispensable if we are to deliver locally relevant solutions, strengthen medicine security, and build resilient health systems across Africa,” he stated.

Describing the engagement as significant, Dr. Salako expressed optimism that it would mark “the dawn of a new era where science meets impact, research informs policy, and innovation saves lives.” He explained that discussions focused on leveraging Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy to improve access to advanced care, noting that many Africans have historically been excluded from such innovations due to limited engagement and capacity.

He also disclosed that a National Phytomedicines Development Committee had been established to harness Nigeria’s biodiversity for the development of homegrown, world-class medical solutions. He noted that shortly after its inauguration, the committee chairman, Dr. Obi Adigwe, facilitated a briefing with the Chinese Ambassador on ongoing collaboration and progress.

Dr. Salako referenced the well-known development of artemisinin by Chinese scientists as an example of successful translational research. “That work, rooted in centuries-old herbal knowledge, produced a Nobel Prize-winning discovery and a global gold-standard malaria treatment,” he said.

He added that Africa remains the only continent yet to fully scale CAR T-cell therapy in a structured and comprehensive manner, stressing the urgency of closing the gap.

“Our gathering today represents only the first step in leveraging this model and others to address our pressing health challenges,” he said.

In his presentation, the leader of the Caring Cross delegation, Dr. Boro Dropulic, said the organisation pioneered the development of viral vectors used in gene delivery systems, which underpin CAR-T cell therapy.

He noted that Caring Cross is committed to making cellular and gene therapies more affordable and accessible, adding that Nigeria is witnessing a rising burden of sickle cell disease and blood cancers, including leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, with increasing impact on children.

Also speaking, the Director-General of NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe, highlighted progress made under the Ministry’s directive, describing the adoption of an all-of-government and all-of-Africa approach in driving innovation.