23 Drugs To Fight Cancer Registered
As many as 23 anti-cancer products have been registered during the past one year in India by multinationals and local pharma companies. This is the highest number of oncology products to be registered in any year.
Almost all pharma majors have lined up oncology products. The big names include Glaxo India, Eli Lily Ranbaxy, E Merck, Rhone Poulenc, Fulford and Parke Davis.Although it will be some time before these companies actually start marketing their anti-cancer products, they see this therapeutic category as one with high growth potential. Besides, oncology products are priced higher, giving better returns than other products.
E Merck has stacked up three products - Estramustine capsules, Prednimustine capsules and Polyestrdiol injection. Merck officials said that they will not launch the products during the year.
Fulford has registered Amifostine and Flutamide as well as two injections - Interferon alpha 2B and andretamine. Rhone-Poulenc will be introducing Salmon calcitonin injection.
Some big Indian players have tied up with overseas pharma companies to introduce new products in this segment. Ranbaxy Labs entered into a joint venture with Eli Lily of US, Nicholas Piramal signed an agreement with the American firm, Cytran and already has the first rights over any products coming from Hofmann- La Roche.
Eli pharma companies have registered a host of products in this therapeutic category.