GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has re-entered India’s oncology market with the launch of two precision therapies—Jemperli (dostarlimab) and Zejula (niraparib)—targeting advanced endometrial and ovarian cancers, respectively. The move marks GSK’s return to the cancer care segment nearly a decade after divesting its global oncology portfolio to Novartis.
Speaking at a media interaction in Mumbai, Bhushan Akshikar, Managing Director of GSK India, said the company is committed to making these therapies accessible through a tiered pricing strategy and a comprehensive patient support program branded Phoenix. The tiered pricing refers to different prices for the same drug in different markets, based on factors like a country's economic status or a patient's ability to pay.
“We’ve always kept the Indian patient at the core of our pricing decisions. These therapies will be comparatively priced and supported by fewer treatment cycles, which reduces overall cost burden,” Akshikar said.
Akshikar declined to provide pricing details of the drugs, especially Jemperli, but said they are "competitively" priced compared to existing therapy.
Jemperli, India’s first approved PD-1 immunotherapy for second-line treatment of mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) advanced endometrial cancer, requires 11 infusion cycles—significantly fewer than competing immunotherapies, which typically require 17–18 cycles.
PD-1 drugs are immunotherapies that help the body fight cancer by blocking the PD-1 protein, which normally prevents immune cells from attacking tumors. Jemperli competes against other PD-1s, including top sellers like Merck’s Keytruda and BMS’s Opdivo known for their broad use across many cancers and proven survival benefits.
Zejula, a once-daily oral PARP inhibitor, is approved as first-line maintenance therapy for advanced ovarian cancer, regardless of biomarker status.
Expanding access
To further improve affordability and access, GSK’s patient support programme called Phoenix will offer financial assistance, diagnostic support, and counseling services. The company is also evaluating EMI-based payment options and biomarker testing coupons to help patients navigate the high cost of precision therapies.
“This is not just about pricing—it’s about building a 360-degree support ecosystem for cancer patients,” said Dr. Shalini Menon, EVP – Medical Affairs, GSK India. “We’re addressing diagnostic gaps and ensuring timely access to treatment.”
The launches are backed by global clinical data from the GARNET (Jemperli) and PRIMA (Zejula) trials, and approvals across 40+ countries. GSK is also conducting trials in India to expand indications for dostarlimab to lung, colorectal, and head-and-neck cancers.
GSK’s oncology strategy is part of a broader transformation to build a specialty and super-specialty portfolio in India. “We’re starting from zero in oncology, but the potential is significant,” Akshikar said. "I think if you open up indications one by one, each of these indications would be worth 700 crores in terms of the sheer number of patients that we have in this country."
The company has built a specialized oncology team with over 300 years of cumulative experience and is investing in clinical trials and real-world evidence generation to accelerate future launches.
Rising gynaecological cancers
Endometrial cancer is a malignancy arising out of the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus. Nearly a fourth of endometrial cancer patients in India are at an advanced stage. At this stage, chemotherapy remains a standard treatment but it is often associated with toxicity and poor long-term outcomes.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP), the estimated annual incidence in India is around 19,000 to 20,000 new cases per year for Endometrial cancer and 48,000 new cases annually for ovarian cancer. Endometrial and ovarian cancers are among the top three gynaecological cancers in India.
By 2045, the incidence of endometrial and ovarian cancer in India is projected to increase by 78% and 69% respectively.
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