Cancer treatment in India may soon become more affordable for thousands of patients. It has been observed that over the past six months, doctors have started prescribing immunotherapy to more cancer patients. This is mainly due to cheaper versions of a key cancer drug, Nivolumab having entered the Indian market. Earlier, the high cost of immunotherapy made it difficult for many patients to afford this treatment, but lower prices are now helping more people access modern cancer care.
What Is Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is a medical treatment that helps the body's natural immune system fight diseases, especially cancer. It works by strengthening or guiding the immune system to recognise and attack harmful cells. It is used to treat several types of cancer, including skin cancer and lung cancer. Jagran.com in its report, cited doctors of Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) who stated that Nivolumab can be used for around 25 types of tumours and nearly 100 cancer indications. However, its effectiveness depends on the type and stage of cancer and the patient's medical condition.
Treatment Gets Affordable
The arrival of cheaper versions of Nivolumab has reduced the cost of treatment. Earlier, one cycle of treatment could cost more than Rs 1 lakh. The price has now fallen to around Rs 30,000 in some cases. Dr Imran Shaikh of Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai stated that his prescriptions for immunotherapy have increased by more than 50 per cent over the past six months. According to him, many patients who previously found the treatment too expensive have now started to consider it.
Moreover, Indian research has also suggested that lower doses of immunotherapy may work well for some patients. If doctors can safely use lower doses in suitable cases, the overall cost of treatment can fall further. However, the right dose depends on the type of cancer, the patient's condition and medical advice. Patients should not at all reduce their doses without consulting their doctors.
Cancer Patients To Benefit
A 2022 study by Tata Memorial Centre found that only 2.8 per cent of patients who were eligible for immunotherapy were receiving it. It is predicted that with cheaper medicines now available, more patients may be able to access this treatment. But the actual benefit depends on several factors, including the availability of medicines, the type of cancer and the patient's response to treatment.
Doctors emphasised that immunotherapy has improved treatment outcomes for some types of cancer. According to Dr Kumar Prabhash, head of medical oncology at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, survival rates for certain patients with skin cancer have improved significantly with immunotherapy. Some patients with advanced lung cancer are also living for five years or longer with newer treatments.
In selected cases of early-stage colon cancer, immunotherapy may help patients avoid chemotherapy and surgery while preserving the affected organ. However, the results are not the same for every patient.
Limited Treatment Options In India
Despite the fall in prices, access to immunotherapy remains a challenge in India . According to Dr Shaikh, India has seven checkpoint inhibitor drugs available, while China has 35. As several other medicines still need to be imported, treatment becomes expensive for patients who require them. Meanwhile, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has introduced measures to limit trade margins on 137 anti-cancer medicines. The aim behind this is to make treatment more affordable.
The move is expected to save patients around Rs 2,500 crore annually. However, some experts have raised concerns that certain hospitals may prefer expensive original medicines over cheaper alternatives. KM Gopikumar of the Third World Network highlighted concerns about hospital profits and the availability of lower-cost medicines.
Nivolumab Prices May Fall Further
The cost of Nivolumab is likely to decrease further as four more versions of the drug are expected to enter the Indian market. According to the report, the price could fall from around Rs 30,000 to as low as Rs 10,000 per cycle. However, this reduction will depend on competition among manufacturers and whether hospitals make cheaper versions available to patients.