Sold under the brand name Enhertu, trastuzumab deruxtecan has emerged as a lifeline for thousands of patients with advanced forms of certain breast cancers across the world.
Since its launch in India by British-Swiss drugmaker AstraZeneca , the drug—also used in some stomach and lung cancers—has been seen as a last resort for many patients, dramatically improving survival and quality of life.
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But that hope comes at a staggering cost. The immunotherapy drug can cost anywhere between Rs 50 lakh and over Rs 1 crore annually per patient, depending on body weight.
Enhertu was among three blockbuster cancer drugs granted a basic customs duty (BCD) exemption in Budget 2024, just months after
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