Cadila Pharmaceuticals has announced the launch of Mycidac-C, claimed to be a unique innovative drug for the treatment of lung cancer which accounts for more than 20 per cent of cancer cases across the globe.

Announcing this at a press conference here on Thursday, company chairman and the managing director Dr Rajiv Modi said the formulation was the third major innovative product from the company which has a strong pipeline of products coming up.

“I hope that we will be able to launch at least 10 innovative products, mainly in the vaccine and oncology segments, in the coming few years. The product is the fulfillment of the research works and huge investment for over a decade,” he said.

The company, which plans to launch the product in India next month, holds patent for it in several countries already and looks to introduce it in major markets, including Africa which is a stronghold for Cadila.

To a question, Dr Modi said Cadila would not go for IPO or external funding as it would curtail the freedom of the privately-held company to spend for research and innovations.

Mycidac-C is an innovative research product for the patients suffering from non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The drug has been approved for launch in India by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). It targets Desmocolin-3, a novel target.

This is a first in the class active immunotherapy as well as drug targeting Desmocollin-3. It is a breakthrough in the management of squamous cell NSCLC. There has been no significant innovation in management of squamous NSCLC since the introduction of platinum containing doublet in 1983. Besides affordability and other advantages, Mycidac-C has no systemic side effects during the treatment. Mycidac-C is to be used with platinum containing doublet therapy, he said.

As per the World Health Organisation (WHO) report, approximately 1.25 million people are diagnosed with lung cancer every year worldwide. Around 30 per cent of them suffer from squamous NSCLC. Lung Cancer kills more people than the three next commonest cancers combined.

“The ten-dose injection would cost around Rs.40,000 and would be prescribed for advanced stages of lung cancer. Studies have proved that it could improve the survival by 40 per cent on an average,” Dr Modi said.