The annual incidence of all forms of cancer is about a million in India with lung, head, neck and breast comprising the leading sites. Accelerating incidence is due to increasing life expectancy,sedentary lifestyles and risk factors like smoking coupled with greater access to early and efficient diagnosis.

Biocon is one of the few Indian companies to offer four targeted therapies in a short span of time. The success of its flagship brands, BIOMAb EGFR® and AbraxaneTM has placed Biocon among the top 10 oncology players in India. In addition, it has a wide portfolio of supportive care and cytotoxic drugs, at very affordable rates.

According to Mr Shukrit Chimote, head, branded formulations-India, Biocon, "Though compulsory licensing has made some novel drugs significantly affordable, I feel it might deter launches of innovative medicines in India.Biocon's oncology business development team is one of the most active in the industry. We are constantly on the lookout for exciting and affordable treatment options for Indian cancer patients"

Mr Chimote revealed further, "We are in the process of launching a modality for treating CT/RT induced oral mucositis, a new treatment option RT induced dermatitis amongst few other launches. Clinical evaluation of several drugs from our Biologics pipeline is in advanced stage."

Biocon launched BIOMAb EGFR® (Nimotuzumab), the first novel biologic from its R&D pipeline, in 2006. It is a humanized anti-EGFR MAb approved in India for the treatment of head and neck cancers. Cost of BIOMAb EGFR® treatment is at least 50% lower than other comparable treatment options. So far, over 5,500 patients have been treated with BIOMAb EGFR® with complete support to over 1,500 underprivileged patients through our compassionate use program.

With several promising indications such as oesophageal cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, etc, Biocon is currently conducting several clinical trials at various centers in India. In collaboration with the HCG Group of Hospitals, Biocon is conducting an Investigator Initiated Trial to study the effects of Nimotuzumab in 110 cervical cancer patients. A robust Post Marketing Surveillance study of BIOMAb EGFR® is in progress at the Tata Memorial Hospital with over 530 head & neck cancer patients. In addition, four large scale Phase III international trials (two in head and neck cancer, one in lung cancer and one in gastric cancer) are ongoing to establish Nimotuzumab's 'best-in-class' status for the treatment of various cancers.

Abraxane, based on cutting edge nanotechnology has benefitted over 5000 patients so far since it was launched in 2008. We expect the brand to continue to do well with approval for non-small cell lung cancer by USFDA and pancreatic cancer being a promising new indication.