Global pharma companies are reluctant to introduce the latest cancer drugs because they fear patent infringement allegations from India. The stalling of clinical trials since January 2013 has also made access to advanced cancer drugs impossible in the country, said Dr. BS Ajaikumar, chairman, Healthcare Global Enterprises (HCG) which is India’s largest network chain of 27 dedicated cancer care centres in the country.

The hostile response from global pharma majors to boycott new cancer medicines into India ensues Novartis’ Gleevac drug which lost its patent protection here.  This has turned painful for the scores of cancer patients in the country as they do not have access to the advanced targeted therapies. In this regard, HCG has made a representation to the new government and its health minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan to take a look into the issue and provide remedial measures at the earliest.

It was at the conference of the Association of Surgical Oncologists in the US where global drug majors told the HCG chief that India was no longer on their radar for new cancer drugs. They were wary of the Union government as it did not comprehend innovation nor valued the intellectual property rights but were more keen to protect its generic drug manufacturers. Unless there is a relook by the government, only then India would be reconsidered, said Dr. Ajai during an interaction with the media.

The anti cancer drugs launched by global companies between 2012 and April 2014 which are not marketed in India are Ramucirumab by Eli lilly, Ibrutinib of Pharmacyclix, Obinutuzumab, TDM1, Vismodeb and Pertuzumab by Genetech, Pomalidomide by Celegene, Afatinib by Boerhirnger Ingelheim, Regorafinib, Radium and Regorafinib by Bayer, Dabratinib by GSK, Bosatinib, Axitinib and Crizotinib by Pfizer, Ponatinib by Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Cartilzomib by Onyx, Liposomal Vincristine by Talon, Cabozatinib by Exelixis, Enzulatamide by Mediavation, Aflibercept by Sanofi and Brentuximab by Seattle Genetions, informed Dr. BJ Srinivas, consultant medical oncology, HCG adding that these were for cancers of breast, lung, colorectal in adults and leukaemia in the paediatric population.

“The battle against cancer is an ongoing one and support from all sections of the society is the need of the hour. We need to strengthen our cause for latest drugs and emerge victorious.  It is happy to note that India is considered as a health destination for both the developed and developing world with access to expertise and good hospitals providing affordable and high quality care. But all this would make no sense if latest drugs marketed elsewhere in the world are unavailable here. Short-sighted polices leave the doctor and the patient in the lurch”, said Dr. Ajai.

“The new generation drugs have a curative outcome and it is unfortunate that is unavailable in India”, said Dr. Radheshyam, head, bone marrow transplant department, HCG.

Dr. Poonam Patil, consultant, oncologist, Manipal Hospital said that she was unaware of the global pharma boycott of cancer drugs. “There is a great concern on the Indian rupee appreciation which is increasing the prices of imported cancer drug costs. India should make speedy efforts to bring back transparent clinical trials to bring in latest oncology drugs.