‘Homegrown research, genetic drugs, key to India’s cancer fight’

Chennai: A generic version of the anti-cancer drug nivolumab, used as an immunotherapy to unleash the immune system against cancer cells, slashed treatment costs by 90% for survivors, spurring Indian drugmakers to ramp up production of affordable cancer therapies. The development took centre stage on Saturday at the 7th annual Immuno-Oncology Society of India (I-OSI) conference.The three-day conference, held under the theme "Immuno-oncology in multidisciplinary cancer care: personalised paradigms," wrapped up on Sunday and drew experts from 13 countries to debate immunotherapy's rise as the "fourth pillar" of cancer therapy — alongside surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. "It boosts the body's own defences to target tumours," said I-OSI president Dr Rakesh Jalali. "We discussed ethical research, funding and learning from China, which rolled out 3 new immunotherapy molecules," he said.Affordable, homegrown immunotherapy could transform India's cancer fight, he said. "In the next decade, Indian companies must develop drugs tailored to our patients based on evidence-based research by basic scientists and cancer specialists. We also discussed ways to tap the right funding for ethical research," he added.Experts shared strategies for adjuvant therapies that pair immunotherapy with chemo, radiation and surgery to broaden access. "The aim is to prevent relapse by targeting residual microscopic disease with immunotherapy, targeted drugs, or combinations. The recent research findings shifted paradigms, especially in lung, breast, gastric and bladder cancers," Dr Jalali added.