Nigeria researcher unveils new hope for blood cancer treatment

A Nigerian UK-based biomedical scientist, Muh’d Saheed Abd-Rouf, has called on oncologists in the country to explore asciminib, a new drug that could change the treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML), a type of blood cancer affecting thousands of patients.

CML has for years been treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which have improved survival rates.

This was disclosed in a chat with our correspondent on the usefulness of the research.

However, many patients still suffer treatment failure due to drug resistance or severe side effects, especially those with the T315I mutation, where most existing drugs are ineffective.

Muh’d Saheed, a researcher at the University of Chester, United Kingdom, led a study that reviewed and analysed eight major clinical trials on asciminib, a first-in-class drug with a novel mechanism of action different from older therapies.

According to the study, asciminib targets the myristoyl pocket of the BCR::ABL1 kinase, unlike traditional drugs that attack the ATP-binding site. This unique approach makes it effective for patients who no longer respond to standard treatments.

Presenting his findings, Muh’d Saheed said asciminib showed better treatment outcomes in patients without the T315I mutation, recording higher rates of Major Molecular Response and Complete Cytogenetic Response than older drugs.

“The results are compelling,” he said. “Asciminib offers a much-needed alternative for patients with advanced disease or those resistant to traditional treatments. It is not just effective but safer too.”

He added that even for patients with the difficult-to-treat T315I mutation, asciminib demonstrated significant effectiveness where other drugs, including ponatinib, have often failed.

Beyond effectiveness, the researcher noted that asciminib has a better safety profile, with fewer severe side effects. He explained that unlike some existing drugs linked to serious heart and lung complications, asciminib poses less risk to patients’ overall health.

“In clinical trials, patients experienced fewer life-threatening complications such as pleural effusions, which are common with older therapies,” Muh’d Saheed said, describing the drug as more tolerable for long-term use.

He stressed that as CML cases continue to rise in Nigeria, there is an urgent need for oncologists to consider newer and safer treatment options, particularly for patients who have exhausted existing therapies.

Muh’d Saheed, a graduate of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology and a licensed biomedical scientist in both Nigeria and the UK, urged Nigerian doctors to keep abreast of global research developments. He said adopting asciminib could improve survival rates and quality of life for CML patients across the country.