Roche Scientific Company has launched in India its lung cancer drug Tarceva (erlotinib).

According to the company release, Tarceva is a novel therapy for patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen. It is an oral tablet taken once a day and has the potential to treat many types of solid tumours. Tarceva has been approved in the US since November 2004 and in the European Union since September 2005. In India, it will cost around Rs 3,30000 for a 3-month treatment.

Not only has Tarceva demonstrated a striking survival benefit (42.5 percent) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer, the most common form of the disease, it has also been shown to significantly improve patients' quality of life by alleviating the severe and debilitating symptoms that characterise advanced disease, such as cough, pain and breathlessness.

More than 90000 men and 79000 women are diagnosed each year in India with cancer of the lungs and bronchi. According to a report by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Bhopal has the highest incidence of lung cancer (14.5 per 100000 men) followed by Mumbai (14.3 per 100000) and Delhi (13.2 per 100000).

"During the last decade there have only been marginal improvements in the effectiveness of chemotherapy agents," Dr G L Telang, Managing Director, Roche Scientific Company said adding, "Tarceva is an innovative breakthrough in the treatment of lung cancer. Tarceva is the only Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor - inhibitor to have demonstrated a survival benefit in lung cancer."