Glenmark launches injection for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting in India

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals announced on Monday that it was the first Indian pharmaceutical company to launch Akynzeo, an intravenous injection formulation for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), under an exclusive licencing agreement with Helsinn, a Swiss biopharma group company.

It is an IV injection that is ready to dilute and contains a fixed-dose combination of fosnetupitant (235 mg) and palonosetron (0.25 mg). It is provided as a single infusion 30 minutes before the start of each chemotherapy cycle, according to a business statement released with exchanges on Monday, and helps avoid both acute and delayed phases of CINV. The drug is already accessible in the EU, the US, and Australia.

Alok Malik, Executive Vice-President for India Formulations, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, said, “At Glenmark, we are unwavering in our pursuit to help patients and clinicians in cancer care. Chemotherapy is the most common form of cancer treatment, with nausea and vomiting being two of its most debilitating side-effects. Akynzeo IV is a convenient, single-dose, ready-to-dilute I.V. (intravenous) injection that covers, both, the acute and the delayed phases of CINV, thereby enabling patients to avoid multiple antiemetic drugs, and improving compliance.”

Helsinn Group Chief Executive Officer Giorgio Calderari said, “Akynzeo I.V. would provide a new prophylactic option for patients in India, undergoing chemotherapy and who are at risk of CINV. We are delighted to partner with Glenmark who has an excellent footprint in this region and is trusted with providing the best treatment options for cancer patients.”

According to the most recent National Cancer Registry Program statistics, cancer incidences in the country are expected to increase by 12.8% by 2025, from 13.9 lakh in 2020. Glenmark has a great reputation in India for being the first to bring novel and successful CINV preventive therapy options to cancer patients.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals is an innovation-driven worldwide pharmaceutical firm with a presence in the branded, generics, and over-the-counter (OTC) segments, with a focus on respiratory, dermatology, and cancer therapeutic areas.

Helsinn is a multinational biopharmaceutical business located in Lugano, Switzerland. With a leadership position in cancer supportive care and a focus on cancer therapies and uncommon diseases, it is dedicated to improving the lives of cancer patients all over the world.