Roche Pharma launches India’s first 7-minute injectable immunotherapy for lung cancer

Roche Pharma on Thursday launched Tecentriq (atezolizumab), the country’s first subcutaneous immunotherapy for lung cancer — an under-the-skin injection that takes approximately seven minutes to administer compared to conventional intravenous infusions that can stretch on for several hours.

“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 Chief Medical Officer.

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The launch marks a significant shift in how immunotherapy, one of the most transformative advances in modern oncology, can be delivered to patients across the country.

“Repeated hospital visits and long treatment hours add to the emotional and physical burden of cancer care,” said Dr Sajjan Rajpurohit, Director and Head of Medical Oncology at Medanta. “Subcutaneous administration can allow patients to be treated much more quickly and easily, improving their overall treatment experience while reducing waiting times and treatment delays.”

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The drug was first approved by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in 2023, followed by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2024. It has since been approved in more than 85 countries, with over 10,000 patients treated globally.

India’s drug regulator, the DCGI, has approved Tecentriq SC for adjuvant and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Clinical studies have shown the subcutaneous formulation to be comparable in efficacy and safety to the original IV version. According to the company four out of five patients chose the SC form over IV administration in the IMscin002 study, citing shorter clinic stays, greater comfort, and reduced emotional distress.

Roche estimates that for every patient treated via IV infusion, up to five could be treated via subcutaneous injection within the same timeframe.

“India’s growing cancer burden requires us to rethink how cancer care is delivered,” said Dr Amit Rauthan, Head of Medical Oncology at Manipal Hospital Bangalore. “Shorter administration formats can help improve accessibility and make cancer care more practical for patients and healthcare systems alike.”