Multinational pharmaceutical company, MSD has renewed its commitment to strengthening healthcare access in Nigeria, calling for expanded Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to include boys and adult women while unveiling new cancer treatment options and outlining a broader vision for equitable drug access across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Speaking in Abuja on the sidelines of the African Health Business (AHB) conference on Friday, the Managing Director of MSD for Sub-Saharan Africa, Zweli Bashman, commended Nigeria’s rapid rollout of the human papillomavirus HPV vaccine since its national launch in 2023.
“Between 2023 and now, 14 million girls have been vaccinated against HPV. That is incredible. In such a short period of time, Nigeria has become the biggest volume contributing market from an HPV vaccine perspective.”
However, he stressed that the fight against cervical cancer is far from over, noting that with an estimated 12,000 new cases and over 8,000 cervical cancer-related deaths annually, Nigeria carries the highest disease burden in Africa and ranks seventh globally.
To sustain and expand progress, Bashman urged the inclusion of mid-adult women and boys in the vaccination strategy, adding, “Boys are carriers of HPV too”.
Including them helps break the chain of transmission and fosters gender-neutral protection,” he said, citing Cameroon’s success in improving vaccine coverage rates after adopting a gender-neutral immunization program.
While acknowledging that Nigeria’s current focus on girls aged 9–14 is shaped by funding structures under Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, he stressed that collaboration with the private sector can fill critical gaps.
“Gavi funding doesn’t yet cover vaccination for boys. That’s why we need an all-of-society approach where private providers can step in to support boy and adult female immunization,” he said.
He also dismissed safety concerns surrounding the HPV vaccine, describing them as misinformation, adding, “These vaccines have undergone extensive global trials and have been cleared by Nigeria’s NAFDAC.
“I’ve personally taken the vaccine. The rumours about infertility are false and have no scientific basis,” he said.
READ ALSO: Yahaya Bello weds fourth wife in private ceremony
On MSD’s presence in Nigeria, Bashman noted that the commitment to innovation goes beyond vaccines while revealing that the company is set to launch a globally recognized immuno-oncology therapy in Nigeria later this year, following regulatory approval.
The drug, approved for use in 27 different cancer indications, according to him, is particularly relevant for Nigeria, where up to 60% of breast cancer cases are triple-negative, an aggressive subtype with limited treatment options.
“This therapy has added as much as seven years of survival in some advanced cancer cases. For Nigerian patients, it could be transformative,” he said.
To enable broader and faster access to life-saving drugs, he pointed out that MSD is leveraging recent breakthroughs in continental regulation.
He said through the African Medicines Agency (AMA), MSD has secured multi-country product approvals via a single submission, cutting down what used to be a years-long, country-by-country process.
“We recently submitted two products and received registrations in nearly 20 countries in a year. That’s the reason we’re able to fast-track our oncology launch in Kenya and Nigeria,” he said.
Noting that affordability remains central to MSD’s access strategy, the MSD chief said through its partnership with Gavi and UNICEF, the company supplies discounted HPV vaccines to over 30 African countries, “In 2023 alone, its vaccines reached 17 million girls,” he added.
Bashman encouraged African governments to emulate Botswana’s public-private model, which enabled national access to MSD’s oncology drug, “Don’t assume you can’t afford it, initiate a conversation first,” he advised.
He also addressed questions about the relevance of Western-developed medicines for African populations, especially concerns about genetic compatibility, saying, “Local experts in Nigeria independently selected our HPV vaccine after evaluating all available products.
“We don’t impose anything. Regulatory authorities and scientists make those calls.”
To improve diversity in clinical research, Bashman explained that MSD is expanding its trial programs across Africa, with ongoing work in Kenya and Uganda and planned expansions into Nigeria and Ghana.
“Africa is one of the most genetically diverse populations. Testing medicines here ensures we’re addressing real-world needs,” he noted.
Beyond HPV and cancer care, he revealed that MSD is preparing for the African rollout of its newly approved RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccine, which addresses a major cause of infant mortality on the continent.
According to him, the company is also active in social impact through the Mectizan Donation Program, which provides free treatment for river blindness, noting that the MSD for Mothers initiative is focused on maternal health.
“Nigeria is a key recipient country for both programs,” Bashman stressed.
With expanded access to vaccines, oncology therapies, and new global health partnerships, he noted that MSD is reinforcing its vision that innovative medicine should be a right, not a privilege for every Nigerian.