On Thursday, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, based in Hyderabad, launched its anti-cancer drug, Toripalimab, in India. Toripalimab is the only immuno-oncology drug approved worldwide to treat adults with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (RM-NPC). This aggressive form of head and neck cancer starts in the upper part of the throat.
Dr. Reddy’s will sell Toripalimab under the brand name Zytorvi in India. Before the launch, chemotherapy (gemcitabine and cisplatin) was the standard treatment for RM-NPC in India. Toripalimab is now the first-line treatment for adults with metastatic or recurrent locally advanced NPC, when used with gemcitabine and cisplatin.
Research shows that this combination reduces the risk of disease progression or death by 48%. Additionally, doctors can use Toripalimab alone to treat adults with recurrent, unresectable, or metastatic NPC that has worsened after previous treatments.
M.V. Ramana, CEO of Branded Markets (India and Emerging Markets) at Dr. Reddy’s, said: “Toripalimab’s launch marks a major milestone for NPC patients in India. The prognosis for advanced-stage patients is poor. India ranks among the top five countries with the highest disease burden. Toripalimab has shown better results for RM-NPC compared to standard treatments. It meets a critical unmet need for NPC patients in India.”
The partnership between Dr. Reddy’s and Shanghai Junshi Biosciences will create long-term value for both companies. It will also significantly impact cancer treatment in the region. By introducing Toripalimab to key countries, Dr. Reddy’s plans to address the unmet medical needs of patients with recurrent or metastatic NPC and other cancers. This will improve both survival rates and quality of life.
