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Our Bureau

Bangalore , Sept. 17

Biocon launched its anti-cancer drug on Sunday, roping in Bollywood star, Shah Rukh Khan, to unveil its Biomab-EGFR in a low-key affair in Bangalore.

Though biotech cancer drugs are available in India, they are beyond the reach of the masses. Biomab-EGFR would be priced 40 per cent of other MAb-based MNC drugs, Biocon's CMD, Ms Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, told a news conference. The price is to be given out in a few days.

While the regulatory processes are on to take the first Indian biotech cancer drug to the South Asian markets, Biocon plans to strike partnerships to foray into the US and Europe, Ms Mazumdar-Shaw said.

This marks the company's entry into proprietary immunotherapeutics; "Today we join the exclusive league of MAb developers worldwide. We want to be a key player in this segment," she told a news conference.

Biotech drugs such as Biomab-EGFR have shown better life-extension and even curing chances compared to chemo drugs. The drug is based on a therapeutic antibody and is the first of the eight MAb products being jointly developed by Biocon and its Cuban research partner, CIMAB. The drug is produced at their 51:49 facility, Biocon Biopharmaceuticals, here.

The antibody is rigged to target cancer of head and neck in which the sub-continent has 30 per cent of the global incidence due to rampant smoking and tobacco chewing. Biocon would take up trials soon for other cancers such as lung, colorectal, breast among others.

Biocon has made its largest ever investment - of over Rs 200 crore - in this drug and has set up a new Oncotherapeutics division to handle its upcoming products.

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Biocon launches anti-cancer drug

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