Glenmark Brings Advanced Blood Cancer Treatment to India with DCGI-Approved Brukinsa

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals is set to introduce a major development in the Indian oncology landscape by launching Brukinsa (zanubrutinib), an advanced therapy for certain blood cancers. This move follows recent approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), allowing Glenmark to bring the innovative drug to Indian patients battling specific hematological malignancies.

Brukinsa, a product developed by the global biotechnology firm BeiGene, is a next-generation Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor. It is used in the treatment of diseases such as mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). Glenmark will market the drug in India under a licensing agreement with BeiGene.

This approval comes at a time when demand for precision oncology treatments is growing. Brukinsa has already demonstrated a favorable safety profile and improved efficacy in international trials, including head-to-head comparisons with existing BTK inhibitors like ibrutinib. In one key study, patients on zanubrutinib showed higher progression-free survival rates with fewer adverse cardiovascular effects.

According to Glenmark, this launch is part of its broader strategy to expand its oncology portfolio and improve access to advanced cancer treatments across India. The company emphasized that Brukinsa offers not just therapeutic innovation but also a potentially improved quality of life for patients, due to its targeted mechanism and more favorable tolerability.

Alok Malik, Glenmark’s President and Business Head for India Formulations, stated that the company is committed to addressing unmet medical needs in hematology. “The introduction of zanubrutinib in India reinforces our focus on delivering next-generation therapies that are backed by robust clinical data,” he noted.

Globally, Brukinsa is approved in over 65 markets, including the United States, European Union, Canada, and China. Its arrival in India marks a critical step in bridging the gap between cutting-edge cancer treatments available in the West and the pressing healthcare needs in emerging markets.

As India continues to see a rising burden of hematologic cancers, access to drugs like zanubrutinib could make a meaningful difference. Glenmark plans to make Brukinsa available through leading cancer care institutions and specialty centers, aiming for both broad availability and affordability.

With the launch of Brukinsa, Glenmark strengthens its position as a key player in India’s growing oncology sector while offering new hope to patients and clinicians alike.

Reference:

1. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. Glenmark to Launch DCGI-Approved BRUKINSA® in India to Advance Treatment of Hematological Malignancies. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, May 2024. https://glenmark.b-cdn.net/gpl_pdfs/media/Glenmark_to_Launch_DCGI_approved_BRUKINSA%C2%AEin_India_to_Advance_Treatment_of_Hematological_Malignancies.pdf

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/M Subha Maheswari)