Intas launches Azadine for cancer

Multi-speciality pharmaceutical organisation Intas today said it has independently developed azacitidine molecule, which will reduce treatment cost of MDS and AML types of cancer by 80 per cent.
"With the launch of Azadine we further reinforce our commitment towards making quality healthcare affordable and accessible to maximum number of Indians. It will reduce treatment cost of MDS and AML types of cancer by 80 per cent," Intas Pharmaceuticals India Head, Marketing and Sales, Vijayesh Gupta said in a release issued here.
It is estimated that 4-5 people per 1,00,000 suffer from MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome) or AML (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia).
Data from global epidemiologic studies suggest that the disease burden of MDS in India is likely to be sizable. 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.

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 or in the bone marrow. Advanced stages of MDS may lead to AML.
Azacitidine (effective molecule in Azadine) is the only drug, which has been shown to prolong overall survival duration and time to transformation into AML, increase response rate, reduce transfusion burden and improve quality of life.

There is no need for the patient to get admitted to hospital, due to subcutaneous administration of the drug, which is an OPD procedure.
As there is little impact on lifestyle and fewer hospital visits, this drug ensures higher patient compliance.

Currently, for combating this type of cancer in the country, oncologists have to rely on imported version of Azacitidine.
The treatment cost of imported Azacitidine can range between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 18 lakh. The cost of other treatment options which range from conventional agents to transplant may cost anywhere between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 15 lakh.
To make it accessible to most of needy patients, Azadine has been priced at 20 per cent of the imported brand.
Azadine is manufactured in Intas SEZ facility in Ahmadabad (Gujarat).
The plant has dedicated manufacturing facilities for cytotoxic formulations (Tablet, Capsule, Liquid Injection, Lyophilised Injection, and Ointment) and Other Oral Solids.

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