Govt backs new molecule for cancer cure
CAMRET plant extract shows early breakthrough
The Federal Government has directed key health research institutions to channel resources towards supporting a new study that may lead to a potential cure for brain cancer.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, gave the directive to the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), and the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT).
He said the order followed the discovery of a promising molecule believed to be effective against glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Salako issued the directive during a virtual meeting with the heads of the research institutes and the Centre for Advanced Medical Research and Training (CAMRET) at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
He said the breakthrough underscored the need for collaboration between government and scientists to drive medical innovation.
“The phytomedicine sector must be prioritised in unlocking Nigeria’s healthcare value chain,” he said, adding that a committee had been set up to link investors, researchers, and industry players.
He directed the CAMRET team to submit a formal proposal to the ministry for further evaluation, noting that the federal government would support the research to the next stage.
Presenting the findings, CAMRET team lead, Dr Amina Yusuf Jega, said the active compound was extracted from a plant native to North-Western Nigeria and was found to destroy brain cancer cells within 48 hours at a specific dosage.
She explained that the extract was also being tested against breast, liver, colon, cervical, leukaemia, and lung cancers, all showing positive results.
Jega noted that glioblastoma multiforme has an average survival rate of 12 to 15 months due to drug resistance and limited treatment options, stressing the urgency of continued research.
The Director General of NICRAT, Prof Usman Malami Aliyu, commended the move and pledged his institute’s support, saying NICRAT had already contacted the CAMRET team for collaboration.
NIPRD Director General, Dr Obi Adigwe, said the minister had approved the inclusion of a CAMRET member in a federal delegation attending a specialised training in China in early 2026.
He added that a similar engagement with Stanford University would take place in Nigeria in February 2026, with CAMRET participating as part of national efforts to advance translational research.
Also speaking, NIMR Director General, Prof John Obafunwa, said the institute was ready to collaborate on clinical studies to test the extract’s effect on humans.
“If this research can extend brain cancer survival rates beyond the current 12 to 15 months, it will mark a major advancement,” Obafunwa said.