The Indian medicine market has recently witnessed the life changing launch of Palbociclib’s generic version.
Pharmaceutical companies – Sun Pharma and BDR Pharma are manufacturer of these generic drug.
The medicine is meant for treatment of breast cancer.
Palbociclib has the USFDA, EMA and CDSCO approval. It is administered in combination with hormonal therapies among patients suffering from hormone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
Let’s look into the Indian generic versions of Palbociclib that these pharmaceutical brands have introduced in India.
Sun Pharmaceutical: PALENO (Palbociclib)
The generic version of Pfizer – Palbociclib has recently entered the medicine market as a treatment for breast cancer. It made its way to the market as the Indian patent of Pfizer that was regarding the medicine, lately expired. It is noteworthy that Palbociclib by Pfizer is patented as the brand Ibrance.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, a recognised Indian medicine brand has launched the medicine as PALENO – their brand name.
The medicine is available in three strength varieties – Palbociclib 125 mg, 100 mg, and 75 mg.
It is speculated that the medicine will be making its way to the stores under some other major pharmaceutical brands as well. And the prices will be slashed in the times to come.
BDR Pharmaceutical: BDPALBO (Palbociclib)
On 11th January, 2023, BDR Pharmaceutical announced the launch of a new medicine – Palbociclib in India with the brand name ‘BDPALBO’. It is meant for the advanced treatment of metastatic breast cancer.
BDPALBO will be available in three strengths – 125 mg, 100 mg, and 75 mg.
Palbociclib price in India
With the generic Palbociclib versions, the treatment cost will immensely drop from the whooping INR 50,000 a month to an affordable range.
Sun Pharmaceutical has made the access of breast cancer patients easier with its pocket-friendly medicine prices, addressing their treatment requirements.
The cost of BDPALBO capsules –
- 75 mg – INR 3,150
- 100 mg – INR 3,600
- 125 mg – INR 4,464
Note: prices may be subject to change as per manufacturer or government direction.
From the sly-rocket range of Palbociclib, Ribociclib and Abemaciclib – the innovator’s three breast cancer medicines had the priced range – INR 48,000 to INR 95,000 monthly! It also needed the intervention of the government.
As per BDR Pharma, Palbociclib’s generic version in India has introduced many (HR+) (HER2-) that are metastatic or advanced breast cancer patients to the cost-effective medicine.
That’s why these generic drug versions by Indian brands are looked upon as major game changers for Breast Cancer patients with HR +ve, HER –ve.
An overview of the Breast cancer situation
Breast cancer is a grave threat to women of every age group all over the world. Every woman who has reached puberty is at risk of this health hazard.
In India, it is the most common cancer form that attacks almost 0.21 million new women every year! Among the total number of patients, 50% (approx.) are hormone receptor positive breast cancer, which is the major breast cancer subtype.
Looking at the 2020 data by World Health Organization (WHO), 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer and global fatalities were as much as 685,000!
By the end of the year, the last five year’s data showed that 7.8 million women were found suffering from breast cancer. Thereby, it is known as the cancerform that is the most prevalent in the world.
And at present, the super expensive cancer treatment is a sensitive matter in the Indian medicine scenario. To aid this serious situation, several NGOs are into it and social workers are also involved. Moreover, the government of India is also considering the compulsory license for drugs to address breast cancer in India.