Intas Pharma launches affordable cancer drug

Azadine is priced at a fifth of innovator brand, so as to make it accessible to most needy patients

Reinforcing its oncology product range, Ahmedabad-based Intas Pharmaceuticals has introduced azacitidine molecule in cancer drug Azadine in India to help fight Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) and acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML). Azadine has been priced at one-fifth of the innovator brand, with an objective to make it accessible to a majority of the needy patients, the company claimed.

Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells and there are abnormal (blast) cells in the blood and/or in the bone marrow. Advanced stages of MDS may lead to Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML).

Currently, for combating this type of cancer in the country, oncologists have to rely on an imported version of Azacitidine. The treatment cost of imported Azacitidine can range between Rs 15-18 lakh. The cost of treatment with other options ranging from conventional agents to transplants may cost between Rs 2 - 15 lakh. Azadine has been priced with an objective to make it accessible to a majority of the needy patients.

It is priced at one-fifth of the innovator brand.

It is estimated that 4-5 people per 100,000 suffer from MDS/AML. “Data extrapolated to Indian population from global epidemiologic studies suggest that the disease burden of MDS in India is likely to be sizeable. Also, cytogenetic studies suggest that MDS patients in India get affected by the disease at a younger age and also tend to have a higher risk,” a company statement here said.

Azacitidine is the only drug which has been shown to prolong overall survival duration, prolong time to transformation into AML, increase response rate, reduce transfusion burden & improve quality of life.

It also offers better convenience and compliance and reduce hospital visits due to subcutaneous administration.

Azadine is manufactured in the Intas SEZ facility in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

This plant operates in compliance with global regulatory standards like USFDA, MHRA and ANVISA.

Intas is one of the leading players in chronic therapy in domestic market. Intas has presence in more than 70 countries worldwide.