RAWALPINDI, Feb 1: A Pakistani pharmaceutical company has entered into an agreement with an Indian firm to market locally a drug used for the treatment of head and neck cancer.

The licensing deal was signed between Ferozsons Laboratories of Pakistan and Biocon of India.

With the signing of the agreement for local marketing of cancer drug “Biomab EGFR”, Pakistan has become the second country in the Saarc region after India where the “best in class cancer drug” is being launched. The medicine was launched in India two months ago.

Biomab EGFR, a monoclonal antibody product, is prescribed for the treatment of head and neck cancer and is being studied in global clinical trials for colorectal, lung cancer, Glioma and pancreatic cancers. The product developed by the Cuba’s Centre for Treatment of Immunology is being commercialised in the region by Biocon under a joint venture.

Head and neck cancer is among the major cancers in Pakistan because of excessive use of tobacco and betel nut in the country. About 25,000 new cases of head and neck cancer are diagnosed every year in the country. The drug has shown remarkable results in clinical studies conducted in various countries, including Canada and the United States, and has been granted accelerated orphan status registration by the EU authorities.

Osman Khalid Waheed, president of Ferozsons Laboratories, said: “We view this agreement with Biocon as an important milestone towards achieving our vision of becoming a complete provider of medicine for cancer treatment. Monoclonal antibodies are emerging as the most important new class of drugs in cancer therapy. With this alliance, we are confident that we will make a substantial contribution to the treatment of head and neck and other cancers in Pakistan by providing cutting-edge, targeted therapy at an affordable cost for patients in Pakistan.”

Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairman of Biocon (India), said: “Our partnership with Ferozsons for ‘Biomab EGFR’ heralds our efforts in extending the benefit of this cancer drug in the Saarc region. We believe that together we will strive to bring new treatment paradigms in cancer care in both Pakistan and India in an affordable way.”

Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Dr Hassan Sarosh Akram said this would bring a revolution in the lives of poor people who previously could not afford the expensive treatment of cancer.