The Rs 1,200-crore oncology market in India is witnessing a great deal of activity in recent times. Eyeing the increasing cancer patient base in the country, homegrown pharmaceutical companies are attempting to break the monopoly of the multinational drug companies by introducing their own generic medicines for treating cancer at a fraction of the innovator products. Pitted against the might of the pharma biggies such as Bayer, Fresenius Kabi, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and Sanofi-Aventis, the likes of Natco Pharma, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Dr Reddy?s, Lupin, Cipla, Zydus Cadila and Intas Pharma are promoting products for the treatment of various cancers?breast cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, head and neck cancer, cervical cancer, renal cell carcinoma and pancreatic cancer. This has helped many more patients to undergo treatment.
The development is significant on several counts. Cancer is not considered a disease of developed countries alone any longer with more than 7-8 lakh new cancer cases being registered in India every year. Deaths from lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and pancreatic cancer are rising in India and as National Cancer Registry Programme?s data, there are about 4.5 lakh cancer-related deaths each year. At any given time, there are about 2.5 million cancer patients and cancer accounts for 8% of the main causes of deaths in India. No wonder, India offers huge opportunities for companies to offer anti-cancer drugs because of increase in mortality rates. And this has encouraged more companies to foray into the attractive market, which comprised only five domestic drug companies five years back, but now more than 80 companies in India are engaged in developing drugs for cancer treatment.
Healthcare analysts say that the entry of generic oncology products in the marketplace has resulted in a price war of sorts for cancer drugs in the country. The prices of Indian generic oncology products are about 90% cheaper than the innovator products. Cipla has introduced Sorafenib Tosylate, a generic version of Bayer?s advanced kidney cancer drug Nexavar, at about one-tenth the latter?s price. Bayer?s Nexavar is priced at Rs 2,80,000 for a month?s dosage, while Cipla?s generic drug is priced at Rs 27,960 for the same dose.
A Natco Pharma official informs that the price of another innovator drug was drastically reduced from its original price of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10,000 for the Indian market. A leading leading player in oncology segment, Natco Pharma has clocked about Rs 130 crore with 25-30 oncology products. The company is in the process of launching five to six products, besides considering even monoclonal antibodies as well.
Cancer is one of Sun Pharmaceutical?s focus areas too. The company vice-president (investor relations) Uday Baldota says, ?We have a dedicated sales and marketing team promoting only oncology products. We have over 20 products in this segment, some of these being extremely complex (for example, Lipodox, Lupride Depot), which at the time of introduction in the market were the only ones available apart from the innovators products. Generally speaking, we have been able to make available high quality medicines for treating cancer at much affordable prices compared to international companies.?
According to Shakti Chakraborty, Group President? India Region Formulations, Lupin, oncology is a fast growing segment in India as well as internationally. However, today it is estimated that not more than 10-15% of people actually go for treatment of cancer as it is perceived to be expensive.This translates into a huge opportunity for generics companies such as ours to provide the most cost effective and affordable options globally. ?We launched our oncology business about 2 years ago and have set up a separate division within the Indian business to focus on a market, where there is a huge unmet need and more importantly, a market that has been growing at 30% CAGR over the last 4 years. Oncology remains strategic therapy area of focus for Lupin?s India region formulations business. We are currently working on biosimilars in the oncology segment, which we believe we should be ready to launch in the next two years? time,? he says.
Ritha Chandrachud, senior vice-president and head of India business, Dr Reddy?s Laboratories, says, ?Our oncology business is led by our philosophy of bringing in a SEA (Science, Education and Accessibility) change in the treatment of oncology in India. Our aim is to facilitate and ensure that our treating physicians get the best information on the latest developments in the treatment of cancer. We are also facilitating early detection of cancer by working with a registered oncologist organisation to educate family physicians to help diagnose cancer early. Early diagnosis directly leads to better survival.?
Dr Reddy?s current portfolio of oncology products spans various areas of cancer care. ?Through our patient connect initiatives, we have enabled more than 3,000 poor patients to access oncology treatment, enabling them to complete planned cancer care and treatment. All these activities have led to our journey towards becoming a leading player in the oncology space in India,? Chandrachud says. In her opinion, cancer treatment continues to evolve and is moving towards customised management approach to each patient. ?Our aim is to keep providing affordable and differentiated treatment options to cancer patients in India.?
Biotech companies are also upbeat on the potential in oncology drugs. Syngene International, a subsidiary of biotechnology major Biocon has entered into a discovery and development collaboration with the US-based Endo Pharmaceuticals to develop novel biological therapeutic olecules against cancer. The Bangalore company launched its lung cancer drug BIOMAb EGFR in 2006 and is extending its use to other cancers. Along with hospital chain HCG Group, iocon is undertaking a clinical study to assess the potential enefits of BIOMAb EGFR in cervical cancer patients. The study will be conducted for six years in various centres of HCG across the country and will involve several eminent oncologists. For Bharat Biotech and Shantha Biotechnics, the main thrust is to go for monoclonal antibodies for various types of cancer.
As per Frost & Sullivan estimates, the oncology market in India is expected to touch nearly Rs 3,309 crore by 2014. The cancer market is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21% from 2008 to 2014 and the growth will be driven by the introduction of new treatments, increasing number of patients on chemotherapy, and improved access to modern cancer therapies. The market is now growing with an increased level of people awareness. Logically, it?s the right time for Indian drug makers to move aggressively in the market too.