What is state of R&D for oncology
in India?
My view is that the business models to get these drugs in
the market are going to be different in the future. It is a global world now
so it is not necessary to spend a lot of money in fundamental research here
and come up with all new products yourself. There are a lot of labs around the
world working on cancer therapies which cannot manufacture or do the trials or
commercialize it. So we have plenty of opportunities to in-license latest
drugs and work on them. However, we have to be up-to-date in our knowledge so
that we can recognize the value in the opportunities when we see them.
Can you tell us something about the
features of BIOMAb EGFR?
BIOMAb EGFR is a humanized antibody, a complex molecule
approximately 150,000 Dalton in molecular weight. It targets a molecule called
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) that is present on epithelial cells.
EGFR is present at particularly high levels on tumorous epithelial cells. When
the BIOMAb EGFR binds this receptor, it helps to kill the tumor. Our clinical
trials have indicated patients respond extremely well to BIOMAb EGFR given in
combination with traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
These antibodies have complex secondary and tertiary
structure that enable them to specifically target cancer cells as opposed to
all cells; therefore the systemic toxicity is often very minimal. So you can
almost get into a specialist clinic, get an infusion in an outpatient setting
and walk away. This is not like typically chemotherapy where you have systemic
toxicity because the drug targets specific receptors or signals in the body
that cause the disease.
We have been working on this product for several years now.
It is a novel molecule, which makes it very interesting. In the entire world,
there are very few monoclonal antibodies that have been approved, the majority
being from the US. Monoclonal antibodies are very complex large molecules, not
like aspirin. One needs a lot of scientific expertise to manufacture,
characterize and even apply them in a clinical setting. These are not the kind
of drugs that you go to the pharmacy and pick up. Typically, they are applied
in tertiary care settings where you go to a specialist clinician who then
prescribes this drug. We are very fortunate that we have a molecule that got
approved in India and is available for the Indian patients ahead of the
patients in the rest of the world.
This drug is also in clinical trials in Europe. They have
very promising results in a very deadly form of brain cancer, called Pontine
Glioma, in children. Many other trials are going around the world. There is a
global meeting that occurs every once in a while where the investigators meet.
Here clinicians came from all over the world, including our clinicians, to
share their experience about how this drug has worked.
Which are the other companies in this
space?
There are very few companies in this segment as it is a
complex and expensive business. In India, we have Dr Reddy's, and most other
companies are global MNCs like Genentech, Roche, Bristol Myers, Amgen, and
J&.
How successful is BIOMab compared
with the existing drugs in the market?
I would say it is very successful compared with the
conventional treatment. Survival in the BIOMAb along with chemotherapy and
radiotherapy is significantly higher than chemotherapy and radiotherapy alone.
-Jahanara Parveen
