Intas claims its new cancer drug is 60% cheaper than rivals in India

Intas Pharmaceuticals on Wednesday said that it has launched its biosimilar cancer drug Bevacizumab under brand name Bevatas in India at a much lower cost than the currently available options.

“Intas’s bevacizumab therapy is priced at MRP Rs 39,995 for the dose strength of 400 mg variant which makes it 60% less than the currently available options,” the company said.

Bevacizumab is a drug which works by slowing the growth of new blood vessels and is used in treating multiple cancers like colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer and recurrent glioblastoma (a type of brain tumour).

The drug has been available in India since 2004 but the cost has been so prohibitive that eminent clinicians in the country say they have only been able to give this drug to very few eligible patients.

“The step is entirely focussed in making the drug accessible to cancer patients in India thus, providing them with a beacon of hope in their fight against the disease,” Intas said in a statement.

Hetero Drugs, Zydus Cadila and Reliance Lifesciences are the other competitors who launched their biosimilar Bevacizumab last year.
Globally, Bevacizumab is sold by Swiss drug maker Roche under brand name Avastin.