Guerbet, headquartered in France, hosted its first India virtual media roundtable, titled ‘Guerbet in India and 100 Years & Beyond of Lipiodol’. Lipiodol is internationally recognized as one of the foremost ethiodized oil that has transformed lives and contributed to huge advances in the treatment of major diseases and debilitating conditions.

In India, the drug has been used in fighting liver cancer and disease for decades and continues to make contributions to the management of various diseases. Lipiodol is a pale yellow/amber-coloured, oil-based, radiopaque contrast agent consisting of iodine that is organically combined with ethyl esters of fatty acids of poppy seed oil.

In 2019, the company received an approval for a new indication for Lipiodol Ultra Fluid in India for chemoembolization (cTACE) of tumors in adults with known intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

HCC is the most common primary liver cancer and is the 4th leading cause of annual cancer death worldwide. Lipiodol Ultra Fluid is used for cTACE, a minimally invasive procedure which consists of mixing Lipiodol Ultra Fluid with an anticancer drug. 

Addressing the cost-related concern of this treatment, Dr Vimal Someshwar, Head of Department, Intervention & Diagnostic Radiology, at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute stated that it is considered to be a cost-effective treatment in India.

In addition, Ghosh TP, General Manager, Guerbet, India outlined Guerbet’s business in India which set up the inauguration of Guerbet India’s Head Office in Mumbai in October 2021.