Mumbai-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has announced a price reduction of Trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer, being marketed in India under the brand name ‘ Trumab’. A 440 mg vial of Trumab will be priced at Rs 15,749, which makes it the most affordable option available currently in the country.

Trastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that has been the mainstay of HER2-positive breast cancer treatment for many years. The cost of Trastuzumab treatment has been a major barrier for many patients in India.

Most of the existing Trastuzumab brands in the market are priced in between Rs 40,000 to Rs 54,000 per 440 mg vial. Considering that a patient needs to undergo a minimum of 18 cycles (12 months) of treatment, the average cost of treatment ranges from Rs 4,00,000 to Rs 5,00,000 for early breast cancer and can exceed Rs 5,00,000 for advanced/metastatic cases.

This can be a significant financial burden for many families, especially in India, where out of pocket expenditures account for approx. 52% of the total healthcare financing.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in India, accounting for 13.5% of all cases, with an estimated 1.78 lakh new cases diagnosed each year, and a 5-year prevalence of 4.5 lakh cases, according to GLOBOCAN 2020 report. The incidence of HER2 positivity in the Indian population ranges between 26% and 50%.