Pharma, tech firms unveil initiative to support 5,000 breast cancer patients

Swiss pharma giant, Roche, in collaboration with Oncopadi Technologies, has launched a Breast Cancer Access Navigation and Testing Programme targeted at supporting 5,000 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients across the country.

Meanwhile, the Global Cancer Observatory has projected that more than 32,000 new breast cancer cases will be recorded in Nigeria in 2025.

Speaking at the launch of the programme on Thursday in Abuja, Consultant Clinical Oncologist and founding CEO of Oncopadi Technologies, Dr. Omolola Salako, observed that the statistics imply that approximately 2,700 cases would be detected each month and 88 cases each day.

She said, “For five seconds, I want you to imagine what it feels like for the 88 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer today. Now imagine, if you will, the mental, physical, and financial barriers breast cancer raises. When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, a ton of emotions consume her—fear, anger, and confusion.

“In a matter of weeks, she would realize the direct cost of her treatment would be between 2-30 million naira or maybe more. In fact, her indirect cost of care may even cost her more if her source of livelihood (her job or business) is threatened. For example, multiple hospital visits for diagnosis, treatment, and management of side effects may consume her time and prevent her from earning her potential.”

Salako noted that the situation can be overwhelming, frightening, and distressing for any woman diagnosed with breast cancer, pointing out that in such a state of mind, many women may make uninformed decisions regarding their healthcare.

She stated that Nigeria has the highest age-standardized breast cancer mortality rate in the world.

The oncologist observed that delays in accessing care, missing life-saving treatments, and the aggressive nature of breast cancer in Nigerian women, particularly those with triple-negative and HER2-positive breast cancer, contribute to poor survival outcomes.

Salako observed that in a 2014 study that compared three-year survival rates, Nigeria ranked lowest among five African countries, with 59% for Black women in South Africa, 56% for Black women in Namibia, 47% in Zambia, 44% in Uganda, and only 36% in Nigeria.

She noted that while the statistics may seem grim, the current 50 percent mortality rate is an improvement from the previous rate of 80% a few decades ago.

Salako explained that the BRANT journey began in 2022 when Oncopadi and Roche engaged in numerous co-creation sessions to develop a novel program to digitally enhance breast cancer diagnosis and care.

She observed that the BRANT programme was birthed by leveraging Roche’s expertise as a global leader in oncology diagnostics and treatment whilst utilising Oncopadi’s digital oncology capabilities and community mobilization strategies in Nigeria, adding that a strategic agreement was signed by both parties in 2024.

According to her, the BRANT programme will help more women receive earlier diagnoses and survive the disease.

Earlier, the General Manager, Roche Nigeria, Dr. Ladi Hameed, said that the Breast Cancer Access Navigation and Testing (BRANT) Programme is a transformative initiative to reshape breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Nigeria.

Hameed, who was represented by the Medical Director, Roche Products Limited, Dr. Bola Oyedeji, noted that today, 5 in 10 women diagnosed with breast cancer will not be here in five years’ time, hence the need to reduce the time to diagnosis of breast cancer in order to improve survival.

He noted that in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, half of the women diagnosed with breast cancer do not survive beyond five years due to factors such as lack of awareness, insufficient funds, and limited access to testing and treatment, adding that the average diagnostic timeline extends to six months, compared to less than 60 days elsewhere.

He said that the BRANT programme will provide free immunohistochemistry tests for 5,000 women as quickly as possible, no matter where they live in Nigeria.

According to him, BRANT aims to navigate women through the hurdles of breast cancer diagnosis and provide them access to free immunohistochemistry testing, reducing diagnostic delays.