Providing the most expensive breast cancer drug Phesgo at free of cost to patients, the Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI) became the first facility in the country. DSCI is a dedicated cancer hospital under Delhi government. Phesgo is a mixed dose formulation combining two monoclonal antibodies. The USFDA had approved the drug in June 2020 and DCGI had approved it in October 2021 in India.
The import licence was granted in January 2022. The cost of the medicine usually ranges from Rs 2.8 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. For DCSI, the purchasing cost of the drug is being taken care by the state directorate.
Dr Pragya Shukla from DSCI said, “In August, we held the first trial on a 39-year-old woman who had HER2 Neu amplified invasive grade-3 breast cancer. The patient has received 4 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and she was satisfied with the short drug administrative time. Phesgo treatment has shown good results in HER2 breast cancer cases. There are more patients in the pipeline – about 10 have been enrolled so far and others who fulfil the criteria will be added. We are waiting for hospital administrative clearance.”
HER2 is found in about 30% of breast cancer patients in India. It is considered a very aggressive form of breast cancer. Phesgo is a fixed-dose subcutaneous formulation that combines Perjeta and Herceptin. When the drug is injected, the hyaluronidase makes the tissue under the skin temporarily more absorbent so that it is able to receive the medication. Once absorbed by the patient’s body, Perjeta and Herceptin in Phesgo work the same way to treat HER2 breast cancer.