Merck Specialties Private Limited, the Indian subsidiary of Merck KgaA, has launched in India 'Erbitux', a targeted therapy for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC).

The drug costs about Rs.17, 500 inclusive of all taxes for a 50 ml bottle and the patient will have to take the injection every week, depending on the treatment regimen prescribed by doctors.

In India, there are about 3.5 million cases of cancer and about 35,000 are found to suffer from CRC. About two-thirds of the new CRC patients diagnosed in India each year are men.

The drug has more significance to India, as globally Erbitux is also approved for the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer in 33 countries. In India, about 200,000 patients are diagnosed to have head and neck cancer every year. The disease is common in India because of the widespread habit of chewing tobacco and tobacco related products. Merck is awaiting approval from DCGI to market Erbitux as a treatment for head and neck, said Dr Sudheirr Dhillon, head, oncology, Merck Specialties Private Limited.

The drug works by targeting the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) found on the surface of cells and is involved in the stimulation of cellular growth, replication or differentiation when stimulated by growth factors. Erbitux, either alone or in combination with chemo or radiotherapy offers an effective, innovative and targeted approach to enhancing cancer treatment. When used alone, Erbitux has the power to shrink tumours and when combined with chemo or radiation therapy, the drug significantly enhances the efficacy of treatment, said company sources. Erbitux is already in use in 53 countries and is the first molecule in 30 years to be approved both in U.S. as well as in EU for treatment of head and neck cancer.

Prof Suresh Advani, director, medical oncology, Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai, Prof (Dr) Purvish Parikh, professor and head of medical oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Prof. Hansjochen Wilke, Kliniken Essen Mitte, Essen, Germany, Wayne Peterson, regional head of oncology, Asia pacific Merck Pte Ltd., Singapore etc. participated in the launch function.