Roche launches India's first 7-minute under-the-skin lung cancer injection
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.New Delhi: Roche Pharma India has launched Tecentriq SC (atezolizumab), the country’s first subcutaneous, or under-the-skin, immunotherapy for lung cancer, the company said on Thursday. This breakthrough formulation marks a significant shift in oncology care, reducing treatment administration time from several hours of conventional intravenous (IV) infusion to just seven minutes.Approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) around two months ago for adjuvant and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), Tecentriq SC is now available across India with more than 100 patients already on immunotherapy.The launch comes at a time when India grapples with a rising cancer burden.
Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the country, with 80,000 cases diagnosed annually. Alarmingly, 40-50% of these patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, and 30% rely on government institutions for their care.In the company statement, Roche Pharma India managing director and chief executive officer Rajwinder Mehdwan said the launch reflects a commitment to solutions that are faster, more convenient and support patient-centric outcomes.Dr.
Sajjan Rajpurohit, director and head of medical oncology at Medanta, headquartered in Gurugram said, “Conventional IV administration is often long and arduous, placing immense pressure on tertiary care hospitals. Repeated hospital visits and long treatment hours add to the emotional and physical burden of cancer care.” The seven-minute injection allows patients to be treated much more quickly and easily, improving the overall treatment experience, the doctor added.The advanced immunotherapy comes at a maximum retail price (MRP) of
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