New Delhi: Immunotherapy used in the treatment of cancer is now reaching increasingly patients than before. The main reason for this is the inrush of cheaper biosimilar versions of the drug Nivolumab in the market. Earlier, considering one trundling of this treatment forfeit increasingly than Rs 1 lakh, many patients were hesitant in raising it. Now in some cases the same expense is stuff personal to be virtually Rs 30 thousand.
According to doctors at Tata Memorial Center and other hospitals, there has been an increase in cases of immunotherapy stuff prescribed due to the fall in the price of the drug. However, the forfeit and effectiveness of treatment may vary depending on the type of cancer, patient's condition and treatment plan.
How much goody are patients getting from medicines rhadamanthine cheaper?
According to Dr Imran Sheikh of Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai, the prescriptions written for immunotherapy at his place have increased by increasingly than 50 percent in the last six months. He said that older many patients were hesitant in starting the treatment due to the expenditure stuff increasingly than one lakh rupees. Now with the medicine stuff misogynist at a price of virtually Rs 30 thousand, it has wilt easier for some patients to decide on treatment. However, this forfeit is not the same for every patient and the forfeit of the unshortened treatment depends on the dose, quantity of the drug and elapsing of treatment.
How many patients were worldly-wise to goody from immunotherapy earlier?
The 2022 study from Tata Memorial Center analysed 15,674 cancer patients who could goody from immunotherapy. Of these, only 444 patients received this treatment, i.e. well-nigh 2.83 percent. The study moreover revealed a big difference on the understructure of economic status. Access to treatment was quite limited among low-income patients. This shows that the forfeit of drugs has long been a major windbreak to modern cancer treatment.
How does immunotherapy help fight cancer?
Immunotherapy uses drugs that help the body's immune system wilt zippy versus cancer cells. Nivolumab is a drug of this category. It helps modernize the response of immune cells to some cancers. It is used in skin, lung and some other cancers, but not every patient gets the same goody from it. Treatment is selected by specialist doctors based on the type of cancer, its stage, test reports and overall health condition of the patient.
How much does the cheaper version of nivolumab cost?
In January 2026, Indian pharmaceutical visitor Zydus Lifesciences introduced 'Tishtha', a biosimilar of Nivolumab. According to the company, its 40 mg vial was priced at Rs 13,950 and the 100 mg vial was priced at Rs 28,950. These prices are much lower than the original drug. However, the forfeit of one vial cannot be considered the forfeit of the unshortened treatment. The doctor decides how much medicine the patient needs and at what intervals.
What challenges remain despite treatment rhadamanthine cheaper?
According to experts, it is important to reduce the price of the drug, but this does not automatically make immunotherapy wieldy to all patients. Availability of medicines, forfeit of testing, hospital treatment and worthiness to protract treatment for a long period are moreover important. Some patients may need to be monitored for wrongheaded effects. Therefore, it is not prudent to start treatment or transpiration the spoonful just by looking at the price.
Can the price reduce remoter in the coming time?
The entry of biosimilars of nivolumab into the market is likely to increase competition and impact prices. However, the requirement of its price coming up to Rs 10,000 should be seen only as an estimate of the possible future. The final price will depend on the options misogynist in the market, the quantity of the medicine and the pricing policy of the companies. The most important thing for the patients is that the medicine is misogynist at low forfeit withal with its regular supply and well-constructed treatment under the supervision of expert doctors.
