Cancer drug: HC seeks DCGI, Genentech reply on Reliance plea

Delhi High Court today sought responses of Swiss pharma major Roche's subsidiary Genentech Inc and the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on a plea by Reliance Life Sciences challenging a single-judge order blocking the launch of its breast cancer drug.
A bench of justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva, however, refused to stay the single judge's order of November 2, directing the Indian company not to launch till November 17 its drug which is similar to Genentech's cancer medicine, Trastuzumab sold under the names - Herclon and Herceptin.
It listed the matter for further hearing on November 19.

Reliance, represented by senior advocate Pratibha M Singh, told the court it has received all the approvals including for packaging and no other approvals were required and sought that the single-judge's order be stayed.
Singh said if the single judge hears the matter on November 17, then this appeal would be rendered infructuous.
She also said that two other pharma majors Biocon and Mylan have been allowed to launch their drugs bio-similar to that of Genentech.
Meanwhile, senior advocate Rajiv Nayar, representing the swiss company, said that Reliance needs to get two more approvals.
The single judge in his order had noted that despite receiving DCGI approval in June this year, Reliance was yet to launch its cancer drug.