The Abraxane drug of the US-based Abraxis BioScience Company that is used in the treatment of breast cancer will now be marketed in India by biotechnology major Biocon Ltd. This information was divulged by a top official of the company on Friday, July 18. At $400 or Rs.17,200 per 100mg vial, the Abraxane drug is 60 per cent cheaper in India in comparison to the United States where the same amount is sold for $1,000 or Rs 43,000. After the introduction of its proprietary antibody Biomab for treating head and neck cancers, Abraxane will be the second oncotherapeutics drug Biocon will be marketing.

The Abraxane drug is being introduced in India for the first time for breast cancer, after a mixed treatment of metastatic disease or relapse of adjuvant chemotherapy within six months failed. It was in 2005 that the Abraxane drug got approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), whereas the Drug Controller General of India approved it in 2007. Sources inform that around 100,000 cases of breast cancer emerge in India each year and so this disease happens to be the second biggest reason for the death of women in India.