Drug-maker Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd on Tuesday announced the launch of Trastuzumab biosimilar, Eleftha, that will bring down the cost of breast cancer treatment by nearly 65 per cent, the company claimed.
In a statement, the Ahmedabad-based company said human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2) breast cancer therapy will now be more affordable to patients. Trastuzumab is a targeted therapy which has been shown to inhibit the growth of human cancer cells that over-express a type of protein called HER2.
The maximum retail price (MRP) of Eleftha will be ₹19,995 for the dose strength of 440 mg, which makes it nearly 65 per cent cheaper than the currently available options. At present, the MRP of most Trastuzumab brands in India ranges between ₹58,000 and ₹63,000 per 440 mg vial.
In patients with HER 2 positive early breast cancer, almost 18 cycles of therapy are required, costing more than ₹10 lakh. With the Intas product, it will come down to less than ₹4 lakh and enable more patients to avail of the treatment.
Intas is a pioneer in indigenously-developed biosimilars. Eleftha is the latest addition to Intas’ “Biosimilar for Billions” philosophy, the company added.
Intas’ biosimilars are manufactured at the company’s European Union-Good Manufacturing Practices (EU-GMP) certified biotechnology plant located near Ahmedabad.