Health Care Global Enterprises (HCG), a cancer care and research centre, has inked a pact with Sun Moon Pharma in Ahmedabad for the production of generics in oncology. The first two products, Pacitaxol and Docetexol, will be introduced in July this year. These are first line therapies for breast, head and neck and ovarian cancers at a cost 25 per cent lesser than existing drugs.
The Sun Moon Pharma has a Schedule M compliant facility in Ahmedabad where it is already engaged in the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for the Indian cancer formulation drug majors. According to the pact with HCG, it will not only produce the APIs, but also get the generic versions produced under a contract manufacture agreement.
The drugs will be priced 25 per cent lower than the cost of existing drugs which is between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 a month for patients. Our primary aim to manufacture is to provide an end-to-end solution and serve the oncology patients with affordable drugs which are grossly lacking today, Dr BS Ajai Kumar, chairman health care Global Enterprises Ltd told Pharmabiz. "To begin with, the products will be for HCG use as it has set up 8 cancer care centres across the country last year", he added.
HCG is in the process of setting up an additional five centres including Nasik, Ranchi and Vijayawada. The company has already acquired hospital in Ahmedabad, and is in discussion for an acquisition of a healthcare facility in New Delhi and negotiating with a hospital in Kolkotta. In many of the deals, HCG goes in for a majority stake with a 65 per cent investment.
HCG has also invested Rs 30 crore for a Cyberknife project, which is India's first whole body robotic stereo tactic radio surgery equipment. The project is being set up its facility here in collaboration with Singapore-based Advanced Medical Systems Pte Ltd.
Triesta Sciences is the research services arm of HCG that undertakes molecular research, clinical trials and laboratory services. Presently around 4- 5 trials are going on here for leading pharma companies in the oncology drug space.
HCG is also conducting 45 trials for cancer drugs for the pharma companies in India and abroad for pancreatic, leukaemia, breast, oral, lung, head and neck cancers, to name few.
HCG Enterprises Limited is a leading private sector oncology institution in India. HCG is a physician-led initiative that owns and manages a network of cancer centres, including the Bangalore Institute of Oncology, the Curie Centre of Oncology, the Bharath Hospital and Institute of Oncology in Mysore and the Malnad Hospital and Institute of Oncology in Shimoga.