Thursday, April 13, 2006

Roche launched Tarceva in India

Roche Scientific Company has launched revolutionary its anti-cancer drug ‘Tarceva’ in India, which has earlier received US approval in November 2004 and European Union approval in September 2005. Erlotinib hydrochloride, the active ingredient of Tarceva is post-1995 molecule which inhibits the activity of the erbB family of oncogenic and protooncogenic protein tyrosine kinase, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and is useful in prolonging and improving survival in non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. Erlotinib hydrochloride is disclosed and claimed in US Patent No. 5,747,498 and its corresponding Indian patent application 537/DEL/96 is still pending for grant in India since 1996. Indian patent application was filed under section 135 of the Patents Act 1970 by Pfizer, claiming priority date March 30, 1995 from US application. Erlotinib hydrochloride was discovered in joint collaborative effort by Pfizer & OSI Pharmaceuticals. Later, OSI Pharmaceutical entered into concurrent agreements with Genentech and Roche for global co-development and commercialization of Tarceva.

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