Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has unveiled toripalimab in India, a novel biological entity in the realm of medicine. This groundbreaking immuno-oncology medication has secured approval from global regulatory bodies such as the US FDA, EMA, MHRA, and others, specifically targeting adults experiencing recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (RM-NPC).
Earlier this year, Dr Reddy’s forged a partnership with Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co. Ltd, entering into a license and commercialization deal for toripalimab. Through this collaboration, Dr Reddy’s gained exclusive rights to develop and distribute toripalimab across 21 countries, including regions like India, South Africa, Brazil, and several Latin American nations. The agreement further extends the license, allowing Dr Reddy’s to potentially include Australia, New Zealand, and nine additional countries. With India’s access to this cutting-edge PD-1 inhibitor, following China and the United States, Dr Reddy’s will market the drug as Zytorvi domestically.
In India, prior to the introduction of toripalimab, the standard treatment for RM-NPC involved the chemotherapy duo of gemcitabine and cisplatin. Toripalimab is now recommended as the initial treatment for adults with metastatic or recurrent locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma when used alongside gemcitabine and cisplatin. This combination has led to a 48% decrease in the risk of disease progression or mortality. Additionally, toripalimab has gained approval for use as a monotherapy for adults with recurrent unresectable or metastatic NPC following platinum-based chemotherapy failure.
M V Ramana, CEO for branded markets at Dr Reddy’s, covering India and emerging markets, stated: “The introduction of toripalimab represents a pivotal development for NPC patients in India. As a form of head and neck cancer, NPC is relatively rare, yet it poses significant challenges, particularly in advanced stages. India’s burden of the disease ranks it among the top five globally. As a next-generation PD-1 inhibitor, toripalimab exceeds previous treatments in efficacy for RM-NPC, addressing a critical unmet need for patients in India.”
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma arises from the epithelial tissue of the nasopharynx, posing significant health challenges. According to GLOBOCAN 2022 data, worldwide, over 120,000 new NPC cases were diagnosed last year. Out of those, India accounted for 6,519 of these new cases. The highest incidence rates within India were recorded in the northeastern regions, with Kohima in Nagaland exhibiting an incidence rate of 19.4 per 100,000 people.