Dr Reddy''s launch anti-cancer drug topotecan

In an effort to strengthen its oncology business, the Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has launched its fourth anti-cancer product for the treatment of refractory and .

The product, named Cantop, is a lyophilised form of topotecan hydrochloride. Lyophilization is a process to enhance product stability, especially in tropical climates and in places where the cold-chain distribution is weak. The drug will be marketed by the company’s Critical Care division.

Dr Reddy’s is launching the product in the "required" dosage pack of 2.5 mg, instead of the regular 4 mg vial. "Topotecan is a single-dose treatment and the vial cannot be reused once it is opened. Hence, a smaller dosage pack prevents wastage of the product", says a company release.

According to a Dr Reddy's spokesperson, the recommended dosage of topotecan is 1.5 mg per square metre of body weight. Since the average dose required by Indian patients ranges between 2.25mg - 2.5mg, Cantop 2.5mg is an ideal presentation for Indian patients, she says.

The product is available as 4 mg internationally since the body weight of patients in Western countries is more than that of the average Indian patients. "They (SmithKline Beecham) may not have felt the need of a lower unit strength for this reason," she adds. SmithKline Beecham holds the international patent for topotecan.

Dr Reddy’s currently markets three anti-cancer products - Mitotax (paclitaxel), Dacotin (oxaliplatin), and Docetere (docetaxel). Mitotax is indicated for ovarian and breast cancer after the failure of first line therapy. Dacotin is for colorectal cancer, while Docetere is for lung and breast cancer.

"The company plans to achieve leadership in the oncology segment of the market by 2002 from the present fourth position," the release adds. Dr Reddy’s is contemplating a dedicated US FDA approved plant to develop and manufacture anti-cancer products.

The turnover of the Critical Care division is estimated between Rs 10-15 crore. The entire sales of this division comes from oncology products.

It has been more than a year since Dr Reddy's filed an application for conducting trials for its anti-cancer compound DRF 1042 with the Drug Controller General of India. "The company is awaiting approval from the DCGI," says the spokesperson. DRF 1042 was discovered at Dr Reddy's Research Foundation.

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