Multinational pharmaceutical giant, MSD, has called for gender-neutral HPV vaccination in Nigeria, advocating for boys and adult women to be included in the country’s immunization program. The company is also introducing a groundbreaking cancer therapy to help tackle the growing burden of the disease.

Speaking at the African Health Development (AHD) conference in Abuja, Zweli Bashman, MSD’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, praised Nigeria’s efforts in the fight against cervical cancer. He noted that over 14 million girls had been vaccinated within one year of launching the HPV vaccine nationwide in 2023 — the highest figure in Africa.

But he warned that the fight is not over.

“Nigeria still records about 12,000 new cervical cancer cases and over 8,000 deaths every year — the highest in Africa,” Bashman said.

He explained that including boys and mid-adult women in the vaccination strategy could help break the HPV transmission cycle. According to him, Cameroon has already seen improved results by adopting a gender-neutral approach.

Although current funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance focuses on girls aged 9–14, Bashman encouraged private sector involvement to fill the gaps in funding for boys and women.

“Boys are carriers of HPV too. It’s time we protect everyone,” he emphasized.

Bashman also addressed public fears over HPV vaccine safety, dismissing them as misinformation.

“These vaccines have been thoroughly tested and approved by NAFDAC. I’ve taken it myself. The infertility rumours are false,” he stated.

New Cancer Treatment Coming to Nigeria

Bashman also revealed MSD’s plan to launch a globally recognized immuno-oncology therapy in Nigeria later this year. The drug is approved for treating 27 different cancer types and has been especially effective against triple-negative breast cancer, a form common among Nigerian women and known for its limited treatment options.

“This drug has added up to seven years of survival for some patients abroad. It could be a game-changer for Nigerians,” he said.

Thanks to new regulatory pathways through the African Medicines Agency (AMA), MSD can now get drug approvals across multiple African countries in record time — a process that used to take years.

Commitment Beyond Vaccines

Beyond vaccines and cancer treatment, MSD is preparing to roll out a Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine across Africa to combat infant deaths. It also continues to support river blindness elimination through its Mectizan Donation Program and improve maternal health via the MSD for Mothers initiative.

“Nigeria is a key focus for us across all these programs,” Bashman noted.

In closing, he emphasized that access to modern medicine should not be a privilege, but a basic right for all Nigerians.

“Let’s move from ‘can we afford it?’ to starting real conversations. Innovative health solutions should reach everyone,” he said.