AstraZeneca gets CDSCO nod for drug to treat muscle-invasive bladder cancer

New Delhi: AstraZeneca Pharma India on Tuesday said it has received approval from the national drug regulator to import and distribute Durvalumab solution for infusion for the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

The newly approved indication from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) allows the use of Durvalumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin as neoadjuvant treatment for the treatment of adult patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), the company said in a statement.

"We are deeply focused on closing gaps in access and accelerating the availability of cutting-edge therapies in high-burden countries like India," AstraZeneca Pharma Country President and MD Praveen Akkinepally said.

Bladder cancer is the amongst the top 10 most common cancers worldwide, with over 6 lakh new cases and 2.2 lakh deaths reported globally in 2022.

In India, 22,500 new cases and over 12,000 deaths were recorded in the same year.

Durvalumab is currently approved in India for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, biliary tract cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma and endometrial cancer.