Roche launches antibody drug for breast cancer in India

Swiss drugmaker Roche Pharma on Thursday said it has made the breast cancer antibody cocktail drug PHESGO available in India, which will be priced 20% less and more convenient to administer than the existing therapy. PHESGO is the world's first fixed dose combination of two monoclonal antibodies Perjeta (pertuzumab) and Herceptin (trastuzumab) in Oncology for the treatment of HER - 2 positive breast cancer. The drug is approved for treating both early and late stage or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer.

About 20-30% of all breast cancer cases are related to the HER-2 subtype, which is considered aggressive. PHESGO will come in a single vial for subcutaneous (under the skin) injection compared to existing therapy where Perjeta and Herceptin come in as two separate drugs, and are to be given through intravenous infusion (IV).

While Roche follows differential pricing in India and offers its medications under our Blue Tree Patient Assistance Program at substantial discounted price on case-to-case basis for patients who can't afford, the MRP of Perjeta is ₹2.75 lakh and that of Herclon or Herceptin is ₹65,556.