Roche, a global pharma major has launched monoclonal antibody atezolizumab under the brand name Tecentriq in India. The drug will be useful for the treatment of patients suffering from lung and bladder cancer.
In a statement, the Roche said Tecentriq has shown to extend survival and improve the quality of life in the approved indications.
The product has been approved in India “for two types of cancers: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and Urothelial Carcinoma, a type of bladder and urinary tract cancer”, statement further added.
The pharma major has announced that the drug will now be available to patients in India on the prescription of oncologists.
Responding to the development, Lara Bezerra, Managing Director, Roche Products India Pvt Ltd said, “Bringing Tecentriq to India reflects Roche’s commitment to bring global innovations to the country.”
“Roche has helped transform the treatment of cancer globally, and will continue to set newer standards of care for cancer patients in India,” Bezerra further stated.
Tecentriq is a monoclonal antibody used for treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic urothelial carcinoma. It is a cancer immunotherapy drug that is designed to work with body’s natural defense system. TECENTRIQ is designed to bind with a protein called PD-L1. TECENTRIQ is designed to bind to PD-L1 expressed on tumour cells and tumour-infiltrating immune cells, blocking its interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 receptors. By inhibiting PD-L1, TECENTRIQ may enable the activation of T cells. TECENTRIQ has the potential to be used as a foundational combination partner with cancer immunotherapies, targeted medicines and various chemotherapies across a broad range of cancers
For more than 50 years, Roche has been developing medicines with the goal to redefine treatment in oncology. Today, we’re investing more than ever in our effort to bring innovative treatment options that help a person’s own immune system fight cancer.