Healthcare Pharma launches anti-cancer drug ‘Cyramza’ in Bangladesh
The company is thinking about marketing the medicine at 15-20% less price in Bangladesh compared to that in India
Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Ltd has launched injectable anti-cancer medicine Cyramza in Bangladesh on Friday in association with the US-based company Eli Lilly and Company.
Speaking about the benefits of Cyramza, Eli Lilly and Company, India's Managing Director Luca Visini said, "We believe this will help us in moving several steps ahead in our collective goal to make lung and gastric cancer a less formidable challenge and a condition that can be managed."
At the launching ceremony, Bangladesh Cancer Hospital and Welfare Home Director Professor Mohammad Abdul Hai said, "People of our country are being affected by cancer mostly because of the ultra-modern lifestyle, food habits, pollution, and smoking. In this situation, patients of the country will benefit highly from this medicine."
Executive Director of Marketing at Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Bhupati Kumar Roy, said, "A couple of years ago the United States approved this medicine. Several studies found that its adverse effect is minimal. Nevertheless, we will mention its risk factors in the boxes."
"This is an injectable drug with fewer side effects compared to conventional chemotherapy. It is imported directly from the US, but we have the capacity to produce it in Bangladesh," he said.
"It would be a high end product, but we are thinking about marketing it at 15-20% less price in Bangladesh compared to that in India. Patients in India need 4-5 lakh rupee for treatment with this drug in a single month," he added.
Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Managing Director of Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Ltd Halimuzzaman said, "We are committed to bringing specialised care to Bangladeshi people living with chronic conditions such as diabetes and cancer. Healthcare Pharmaceuticals will market and distribute Cyramza in Bangladesh to help alleviate the burden of cancer."
"We are also trying to get access to newer breakthrough medicines in Bangladesh, focusing primarily on quality and maintaining compliance in every step," he said.
Cyramza is used in treating cancers that are usually advanced or have spread despite other treatments. In most cases it is used in combination with other medicines, Healthcare Pharmaceuticals officials said.
