Roche Pharma launches India’s first subcutaneous immunotherapy for lung cancer

Tecentriq SC reduces treatment administration time by nearly 80 percent and has the potential to lower indirect treatment costs

Roche Pharma India has announced the launch of Tecentriq® SC (atezolizumab) in India, introducing the country’s first subcutaneous immunotherapy for lung cancer.

The treatment can be administered in approximately seven minutes, compared to conventional intravenous (IV) infusions that can take several hours.

The launch marks a significant advancement in cancer care delivery, with the shorter administration time expected to improve the overall treatment experience for patients and caregivers. By reducing treatment administration time by nearly 80 percent, Tecentriq SC has the potential to lower indirect treatment costs, reduce the need for long-distance travel, and minimise time spent in hospitals.

Global studies have also highlighted strong patient preference for subcutaneous administration. Findings from the IMscin002 study presented at the European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC) 2024 showed that four out of five patients preferred Tecentriq SC over IV administration, citing reduced time in clinics, greater comfort, and lower emotional distress as key reasons.

Additional studies have indicated that subcutaneous administration is associated with lower levels of discomfort, pain, and irritation compared to IV treatment.

Results from the IMscin001 study presented at ESMO 2023 further showed that 90 percent of healthcare professionals found the SC formulation easy to administer, while 75 percent believed it could help save time for healthcare teams.

Dr. Sajjan Rajpurohit, Director and Head of Medical Oncology at Medanta, said, “Repeated hospital visits and long treatment hours add to the emotional and physical burden of cancer care. Subcutaneous administration can allow patients to be treated much more quickly and easily, improving their overall treatment experience while reducing waiting times and treatment delays.”

Rajwinder Mehdwan, Managing Director and CEO of Roche Pharma India, added, “At Roche, we are committed to bringing meaningful innovations to India that address not only clinical outcomes, but also the broader realities and challenges patients face during treatment. The launch of Tecentriq SC reflects our continued commitment to improving access to advanced cancer care through solutions that are faster, more convenient, support patient-centric outcomes and importantly enable health systems to be more efficient and effective in providing cancer care.”