Each dose costs about Rs 3.7 lakh, and a patient may need up to six. That price, more than the seven-minute injection time, is what families are talking about after Roche Pharma India put a subcutaneous version of its lung cancer immunotherapy Tecentriq (atezolizumab) on the Indian market.
Roche described the drug as the country’s first subcutaneous immunotherapy for lung cancer. Instead of an intravenous infusion that traditionally ties patients up for several hours at a healthcare facility, the shot goes under the skin, commonly in the thigh. The announcement came on May 14.
“Cancer care is evolving beyond survival outcomes alone towards approaches that also prioritise patient experience, convenience and quality of life,” said Sivabalan Sivanesan, Roche Pharma India’s chief medical officer.
What doctors said
Dr Sajjan Rajpurohit, director and head of medical oncology at Medanta, pointed to the time patients lose. “Repeated hospital visits and long treatment hours add to the emotional and physical burden of cancer care,” he said. Subcutaneous administration, he added, “can allow patients to be treated much more quickly and easily, improving their overall treatment experience while reducing waiting times and treatment delays.”
Dr Amit Rauthan, head of medical oncology at Manipal Hospital Bangalore, tied it to the size of the problem. “India’s growing cancer burden requires us to rethink how cancer care is delivered,” he said. Shorter formats, he said, can make care more practical for patients and healthcare systems alike.
Clinical studies have shown the injectable form to be comparable in efficacy and safety to the original IV version. In the IMscin002 study, four out of five patients chose the subcutaneous form, according to the company, citing shorter clinic stays, greater comfort and less emotional distress. Roche estimates that for every patient treated by infusion, up to five could be treated by injection in the same time.
Who can have it
The injection is for non-small cell lung cancer, which makes up most lung cancer cases in India. Not every patient qualifies. Tecentriq blocks PD-L1, a protein cancer cells often use to avoid detection by the immune system, and tumours are tested for PD-L1 before treatment starts. Patients with high levels are generally more likely to respond. Reports indicate nearly half of NSCLC patients may qualify.
Depending on the patient’s health, the stage of the disease and a physician’s advice, it can be used alone or with other cancer therapies. Experts quoted by The CSR Journal said immunotherapy typically causes fewer severe side effects than conventional chemotherapy.
The cost problem
For many households the bill is out of reach. Healthcare experts are calling for broader insurance coverage, government intervention and cheaper treatment strategies.
Roche has set up a patient support initiative called Blue Tree, and Tecentriq is now included in the Central Government Health Scheme, which gives eligible patients reimbursement options.
Sources
- Roche Pharma launches India’s first 7-minute injectable immunotherapy for lung cancer
- India Introduces 7-Minute Injection-Based Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer Treatment Convenience – The CSR Journal
Sources
- Roche Pharma launches India’s first 7-minute injectable…
- India Introduces 7-Minute Injection-Based Immunotherapy for Lung…
