A new option for cancer treatment has become available in India. American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company has launched its anti-cancer drug “TanStrive” in the Indian market.
The company says that this drug can be effective for those patients whose cancer is related to a particular gene change (mutation) called RET. Amidst the increasing cases of cancer, this new medicine is being considered an important step in the field of treatment. However, its price is quite high. One box of the medicine costs around Rs 2.15 lakh, which is enough for 14 days of treatment.
How does TanStrive work?
According to experts, all types of cancer are not the same. In some patients, special changes in genes help cancer cells to grow faster. One such change in the RET gene is believed to be associated with the development of cancer. TanStrive works by targeting this gene change. It attempts to block wrong signals from cancer cells, which may help slow tumor growth. This drug is considered part of a more targeted therapy than traditional chemotherapy, because it directly affects the gene changes associated with the disease.
Medicine will have to be taken twice a day
According to the company, patients will have to take this medicine twice a day. In India, it has been made available in four different dosages – 40 mg, 80 mg, 120 mg, 160 mg.
Gene based treatment increasing in cancer treatment
Winslow Tucker, President, Eli Lilly India, said that the importance of gene-based and precise treatments is increasing rapidly in the treatment of cancer. Such drugs provide patients with a more personalized and targeted treatment option. In the last few years, there has been a big change in the direction of cancer treatment. Earlier, most of the patients were given the same type of treatment, whereas now doctors are deciding the treatment based on examining the gene profile of the patient.
How much is the price? According to the company, one box of Tanstrive costs around Rs 2.15 lakh. One box contains the medicine required for 14 days of treatment. Experts believe that this medicine can prove to be a new option for those patients in whom RET gene mutation is found. However, before starting the treatment, it will be necessary to take doctor’s advice and necessary gene tests.