Rs 1 lakh to Rs 30,000: Cancer immunotherapy gets cheaper, but will patients get
Benchmarks Nifty22,600.00-87.66FEATURED FUNDS★★★★★UTI Aggressive Hybrid Fund Regular Plan-Growth5Y Return8.52 % Invest NowFEATURED FUNDS★★★★★Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund Direct-Growth5Y Return17.9 % Invest NowEnter search…
Cheaper nivolumab biosimilars are expanding access to cancer immunotherapy in India, with one Mumbai oncologist reporting a more than 50% rise in prescriptions over six months. Prices have fallen from over Rs 1 lakh to around Rs 30,000 per cycle, but hospital stocking practices could determine whether patients benefit from lower costs.
A drug that once cost more than Rs 1 lakh a cycle is now available for around Rs 30,000, giving more cancer patients in India a chance to access immunotherapy, a treatment that has transformed outcomes in several cancers but remained prohibitively expensive for many. Oncologists have reported a sharp rise in prescriptions for nivolumab over the past six months following the launch of a cheaper biosimilar, according to a report by Times of India's Malathy Iyer.The shift comes as Indian research into lower-dose regimens offers another potential route to reducing treatment costs. Together, cheaper drug alternatives and evidence-based dosing strategies could widen access to advanced cancer treatment, although affordability at the manufacturer's end does not guarantee that patients will benefit at the hospital counter.
Dr Imran Shaikh of Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai told TOI that his nivolumab prescriptions had risen by more than 50% over the past six months.
“My patients are responding well to the drug. People who were earlier unsure whether they could afford a cycle costing over a lakh of rupees are comfortable with the new price tag of Rs 30,000,” he said.
From a costly option to a broader treatment window
The change matters in a country where access to immunotherapy has historically been limited by price. A Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) study found that only 2.8% of patients eligible for immunotherapy were receiving it in 2022. Dr Jyoti Bajpai, director of precision oncology at Apollo Hospitals in Navi Mumbai and a co-author of the study, said prescriptions have since risen substantially, though the overall increase is yet to be quantified.Live Events
Nivolumab belongs to a class of drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors, which help the body's immune system recognise and attack cancer cells. Its use across multiple tumour types makes the availability of a less expensive version particularly significant. TMC doctors say the drug is effective across 25 tumour types and has about 100 indications.
The benefits can be substantial for eligible patients. Dr Kumar Prabhash, head of medical oncology at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai's Parel, cited melanoma, or skin cancer, as an example of the difference immunotherapy has made.
“Earlier barely five out of 100 patients had long-term survival, but survival has now increased to 50% with immunotherapy,” he said, adding that some patients with advanced lung cancer are surviving for five years or longer.
In certain cases, the treatment may also spare patients more invasive interventions. Patients with early-stage colorectal cancer carrying high microsatellite instability (MSI-high), a biomarker that can help predict response to immunotherapy, may be able to avoid the conventional combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.
“A patient of MSI-high type of colon cancer would earlier need chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. But if he comes in early stages, then only immunotherapy works. The patient will have his native organ intact,” Prabhash said.
Cheaper at the factory, but will patients pay less?
The price of nivolumab could fall further, with four additional versions expected to enter the market. Yet competition alone may not be enough to ensure that patients receive the least expensive option.Shaikh said India has only seven checkpoint inhibitor drugs available, compared with 35 in China. The other six available in India, apart from nivolumab, are imported and can cost lakhs of rupees over a course of treatment.
A separate policy intervention could help ease the wider cost burden. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority's decision to cap trade margins on 137 anti-cancer medicines, effective November 8, is projected to generate annual savings of Rs 2,500 crore. The measure could reduce costs across several cancer treatments, though the actual savings for patients will depend on how the price controls translate into retail prices and hospital purchasing practices.
K M Gopakumar of Third World Network warned that hospitals requiring patients to buy medicines from their in-house pharmacies could have little incentive to stock lower-priced alternatives if the margins are less attractive.
“Hospitals may favour more expensive original medicines because of higher margins. The cheaper versions may thus not be available to the patients as a result,” he said.
The same concern applies to nivolumab as more biosimilars enter the market. Gopakumar said the price could drop from Rs 30,000 to Rs 10,000, but questioned whether hospitals would stock products that offer them lower margins.
Prabhash said TMC tries to keep medicine costs as low as possible for patients. Whether similar savings reach patients across the healthcare system remains an open question.
For Bajpai, the larger opportunity lies in combining affordable biosimilars with treatment strategies backed by clinical evidence. Research into shorter courses and lower doses has explored ways to reduce expenses for patients who might otherwise struggle to complete treatment. More affordable alternatives could make it possible for a greater number of eligible patients to receive full-dose, full-course treatment where clinically appropriate.
“The real success of innovation is not just how long patients live, but how many patients can access the treatment they need — without financial hardship,” she said.
(With inputs from ToI)
Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Read More News onCancer immunotherapyAffordable cancer treatmentPatients access to treatmentNivolumabCancer treatment costsImmunotherapy price reductionBiosimilar drugsCheckpoint inhibitorsClinical oncologyTata Memorial Centre
(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)
...moreless(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Read More News onCancer immunotherapyAffordable cancer treatmentPatients access to treatmentNivolumabCancer treatment costsImmunotherapy price reductionBiosimilar drugsCheckpoint inhibitorsClinical oncologyTata Memorial Centre
(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)
...morelessContinue reading with one of these options:Limited AccessFreeLogin to get access to some exclusive stories& personalised newslettersLogin NowUnlimited AccessStarting @ Rs120/monthGet access to exclusive stories, expert opinions &
in-depth stock reportsSubscribe NowET
Unlock Access to All Exclusives with ETPrime FREE TRIAL
15 Days Free: Unlock All ETPrime Exclusives, Market Tools & ePapers
Trial offer expiring in00 : 05 : 00
I'd rather pay ₹2599 nowUh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only.
Worry not. You’re just a step away.
Prime Account Detected!
It seems like you're already an ETPrime member with
Login using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits
Log out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.
Unlock ETPrime's Exclusive Stories Today!
Big Price Drop! Flat 40% Off
Student Only OfferAlready a Member? Sign In nowAlready a Member? Sign In nowAlready a Member? Sign In nowOffer Exclusively For You
Save up to Rs. 700/-
ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP
Avail OfferOffer Exclusively For You
Get 1 Year Free
With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership
Avail OfferOffer Exclusively For You
Get 1 Year Free
With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership
Avail OfferOffer Exclusively For You
Get Flat 40% Off
Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year
Avail OfferOffer Exclusively For You
ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month
Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year
Avail OfferSpecial Offer
Get flat 40% off on ETPrime
Avail OfferAvail OfferClaim NowAlready a Member? Sign In nowNeed Assistance?
Connect with an ETPrime expert for personalized support and guidance
+91 9484700004'; }); } if(listing) { var h3 = "You tried reading " + listArr.length + " locked stories in the past " + threshold + " days.", h4 = "Become an ET Prime member and don't miss out on these exclusive stories."; var html = '' + h3 + '
' + h4 + '
- ' + listing + '
What’s Included with
ETPrime Membership
1Exclusive Insights That Matter
Uncover the truth with our investigative stories
Make strategic moves using the real-world case studies
Read industry-specific stories to identify emerging trends
Spot opportunities with in-depth insights that matter
Trump temper on H-1B visas is forcing Indians to do these things to stay put in US
What Adani’s US indictment means for India Inc’s overseas fundraising
Why veterans like Reliance, L&T are on acquisition spree? Aswath Damodaran has an answer.
Will China’s dollar bond sale in Saudi Arabia trump the US in financial world?
Huawei launches its own OS to compete with Google and Apple. But can it win beyond China?
The problem with lab grown diamonds
Why a falling rupee is a better option for the economy
A list of top 20 momentum stocks that have delivered massive returns in one year
2Invest Wisely With Smart Market Tools & Investment Ideas
Alpha Trade
Get daily trade ideas from SEBI-registered research analysts.
Investment Ideas
Grow your wealth with stock ideas & sectoral trends.
Stock Reports Plus
All-in-one stock research with Stock Score, peer comparison & key signals.
BigBull Portfolio
Get to know where the market bulls are investing to identify the right stocks.
Stock Analyzer
Check the score based on the company's fundamentals, solvency, growth, risk & ownership to decide the right stocks.
Market Mood
Analyze the market sentiments & identify the trend reversal for strategic decisions.
Stock Talk Live at 9 AM Daily
Ask your stock queries & get assured replies by ET appointed, SEBI registered experts.
3Stay informed anytime, anywhere with ET ePaper
ePaper - Print View
Read the PDF version of ET newspaper. Download & access it offline anytime.
ePaper - Digital View
Read your daily newspaper in Digital View & get it delivered to your inbox everyday.
Wealth Edition
Manage your money efficiently with this weekly money management guide.
TOI ePaper
Read the PDF version of TOI newspaper. Download & access it offline anytime.
Deep Explainers
Explore the In-depth explanation of complex topics for everyday life decisions.
Health+ Stories
Get fitter with daily health insights committed to your well-being.
Personal Finance+ Stories
Manage your wealth better with in-depth insights & updates on finance.
5Enjoy Complimentary Subscriptions From Top Brands
Stream new documentaries from all across the world every day.
Stories you might be interested in
Figures reflect the source report and its stated period. This article is for information and is not investment advice.
