Cadila launches cancer drug

Cadila Healthcare Ltd said on Thursday, said German Remedies, a part of the Zydus Group, has launched Fludara Oral (Fludarabine) in the Indian market for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Fludara, an orally administered drug, is being introduced for the first time in India and is a product of Berlex Inc, a US affiliate of Schering AG Germany, Cadila informed the BSE.

It helps control CLL by shortening the life span of existing leukaemia cells and interferes with the making of new DNA, thus preventing leukemia cells from growing.

With this treatment the remission can last for several years, thereby increasing the span of survival, it added.

"We have been introducing several new therapies that can improve the quality of life for the patients and enable better disease management. With Oncology being one of our core therapy areas, this new addition further strengths our product portfolio of critical-care therapies which includes cytostatics," said J C Jani executive director of Zydus Cadila, and head of German Remedies.