Page 2 - Cancer Drugs

'New cancer vaccines to prevent recurrence, not onset in healthy people'

The new cancer vaccines are not intended to prevent the onset of cancer in healthy individuals but to stop its recurrence in those already treated, a medical expert said. These are therapeutic cancer vaccines designed to prevent recurrence of the disease in people who already had cancer, not for its prevention in healthy people, said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, convener of the Research Cell, Kerala State IMA, and chairman of the scientific committee, IMA Cochin. He was speaking at the inaugural session of the second annual conference of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Society (GIOS) here on Saturday. Highlighting the evolution of cancer treatment, including the development of therapeutic cancer vaccines, Jayadevan, in a statement, clarified their purpose. These are a form of immunotherapy, specifically individualised neoantigen therapy, which trains the body's own immune system to recognise and eliminate cancer cells, he said. He also spoke of the modern challenge of information overload a

Semaglutide, used in Ozempic, joins WHO's essential medicines list

From cancer drugs to diabetes therapies, WHO's new list expands access to modern medicines and boosts the push for global healthcare equity

Russian mRNA vaccine for colon cancer shows high efficacy: Report

Moreover, promising progress has been made in developing vaccines for glioblastoma and specific types of melanoma

AstraZeneca's lung cancer combination boosted survival in key study

The combination helped patients with a specific type of advanced non-small cell lung cancer live for 47.5 months at the median, the longest survival benefit ever reported

From cancer drugs to glucometers, patients to save more after GST cuts

GST Council removed tax on 33 life-saving drugs and slashed GST on all medicines and medical devices to 5%, easing treatment costs and improving healthcare access

Repurposed drug statin found to slow cancer growth, boost treatment support

Statins, which help treat high cholesterol, have been found to slow down the growth of colorectal tumours, according to a new study, making researchers consider the possibility of repurposing the drug to support cancer treatment. However, more clinical trials are needed to provide scientific evidence before statins can become part of standard cancer treatment, they said. Drug repurposing, an alternative to the conventional way of developing medicines from scratch, accelerates the pace of discovery since existing medicines and compounds being used for it have already passed safety tests. Owing to a need to reduce the cost of developing drugs, the idea has gained traction in recent years with advances in computing power, artificial intelligence and bioinformatics helping in the identification of new uses for existing drugs more systematically and quickly. Cancer is among the multiple diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and HIV/AIDS, for which drug repurposing is being ...

Most cancer drugs beyond ambit of price control mechanisms: Parl panel

A Parliamentary panel has flagged that a substantial segment of cancer drugs are still beyond the ambit of current price control mechanisms and recommended measures to include the widest possible range of cancer drugs by expanding the scope of the Drugs Prices Control Order. In its 163rd report presented on Wednesday, the Committee on Petitions, Rajya Sabha, headed by Narain Dass Gupta stressed that regular and comprehensive market assessments should be instituted to monitor prevailing drug prices and availability trends. Though significant steps have been taken in recent years towards strengthening the regulatory framework for governing the pricing of cancer drugs and promote affordability, a substantial segment of such drugs still remain beyond the ambit of current price control mechanisms, it said. The Committee noted that with the notification of NLEM, 2022, the number of anti-cancer medicines under price control has increased from 40 (in 2011) to 63 (in 2022). However, a ...

Mixed Q1 results for top drug firms amid price erosion, tariff threat

Fresh launches boosted growth for players like Lupin, Torrent

Zydus Lifesciences gets tentative USFDA nod for generic blood cancer drug

Zydus Lifesciences Ltd on Thursday said it has received tentative approval from the US health regulatory agency for its generic version of cancer treatment drug Ibrutinib tablets. The tentative approval granted by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) is for Ibrutinib tablets of strengths 140 mg, 280 mg, and 420 mg, Zydus Lifesciences said in a statement. The Ibrutinib tablets will be produced at Zydus Lifesciences Ltd SEZ, Ahmedabad, it added. The company said Ibrutinib is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with different types of blood cancers, Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)/Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM). Citing IQVIA MAT May 2025, Zydus said Ibrutinib tablets had annual sales of USD 2148.9 million in the US.

Glenmark Pharma's unit, Abbvie sign global licensing deal for cancer drug

Under the agreement, AbbVie will get exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize ISB 2001 in North America, Europe, Japan and Greater China

Alembic Pharma gets USFDA nod for generic cancer treatment injection

Alembic Pharmaceuticals on Monday said it has received the final approval from the US health regulator for its generic Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome injection in different types of cancer. The approval by the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for the abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) is for Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome injection of strengths 20 mg/10 mL (2 mg/mL) and 50 mg/25 mL (2 mg/mL) single-dose vials, Alembic Pharmaceuticals said in a statement. The approved ANDA is therapeutically equivalent to the reference-listed drug product (RLD), Doxil Liposome Injection, 20 mg/10 mL (2 mg/mL) and 50 mg/25 mL (2 mg/mL), of Baxter Healthcare Corporation, it added. Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome Injection is indicated for the treatment of ovarian Cancer, AIDS-Related Kaposi's sarcoma, and multiple myeloma, the company said. Citing IQVIA data, Alembic said Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome injection, 20 mg/10 mL (2 mg/mL) and 50 mg/25 mL (2mg/mL) single-dose ...

Sun Pharma partner Philogen withdraws EU application for skin cancer drug

Experts believe that the drug still holds potential for future market entry, and the current development should be viewed as a temporary setback

India's HPV vaccine rollout brings cervical cancer prevention closer

Studies show that widespread HPV vaccination can reduce infection rates by up to 90% and could nearly eliminate cervical cancer in the coming decades

Merck's potential cholesterol pill succeeds in late-stage studies

The company is searching for its next blockbuster candidate as its major revenue driver, Keytruda, is expected to lose patent protection by the end of the decade

Glenmark set to launch blood cancer treatment drug Brukinsa in India

Glenmark will introduce Brukinsa, a BTK inhibitor developed by BeOne Medicines, in India after DCGI approval to treat five B-cell blood cancers with proven safety and efficacy

Glenmark's cancer drug shows strong results in early trial for Myeloma

In the dose-escalation stage of the trial, 35 patients were treated, most of whom had received a median of six prior therapies

12 common cancer myths busted: What doctors say you must stop believing

Fact-check Friday: Doctors debunk persistent cancer myths-from sugar and deodorants to breast surgery and mobile phones-that often mislead patients, delay diagnosis, and derail treatment decisions

Can weight-loss drugs like Ozempic help prevent cancer? New study says yes

New research suggests GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro may lower the risk of several obesity-related cancers, even matching surgery in preventive benefits

Ban on popular heartburn drug Ranitidine deferred amid cancer concerns

Despite NDMA-related cancer concerns and global withdrawals, Indian drug regulators have opted not to suspend Ranitidine, pending further safety review and investigation by a larger expert committee

J&J tops Q1 forecasts as cancer drugs drive growth; sales outlook raised

On an adjusted basis, the company earned $2.77 per share in the quarter, 2.2 per cent higher than the previous year and above analysts' estimates of $2.59 per share