By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : June 25, 2026 3:53 pm
CDSCO-approved targeted therapy expands precision oncology options for patients with RET-driven lung, thyroid, and other advanced solid tumours
Eli Lilly and Company India has launched Tanstrive (selpercatinib) in India following approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumours driven by rearranged during transfection (RET) gene alterations.
Tanstrive (selpercatinib) is a selective RET inhibitor designed to block abnormal signalling pathways that fuel tumour growth. Administered as an oral therapy twice daily, the treatment offers a precision oncology approach for patients whose cancers are driven by RET gene alterations.
The therapy has demonstrated rapid and durable responses, including efficacy in patients with central nervous system (CNS) involvement.
The drug is indicated for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harbouring RET gene fusions, as well as adult and paediatric patients aged two years and older with advanced or metastatic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) carrying RET mutations.
It is also approved for patients with advanced thyroid cancer with RET gene fusions that are refractory to radioactive iodine treatment and for certain advanced or metastatic solid tumours with RET gene fusions that have progressed following prior systemic therapy or where no satisfactory treatment alternatives exist.
Commenting on the launch, Winselow Tucker, President and General Manager, Eli Lilly and Company (India), said the introduction of Tanstrive reflects Lilly’s commitment to expanding access to innovative, evidence-based therapies for patients with RET-altered cancers, including those with limited treatment options. He noted that precision oncology continues to transform cancer care and that the therapy represents an important step towards delivering biomarker-guided treatment solutions in India.
Dr. Rahul Kapur, Senior Director – Medical, Eli Lilly and Company (India), highlighted the importance of identifying RET alterations through comprehensive genomic testing.
“Tanstrive is the first and only selective RET inhibitor approved in India for RET-altered solid tumours irrespective of tumour type, offering a targeted treatment option designed to address the underlying molecular drivers of cancer," said Dr. Kapur.
RET alterations are rare but clinically significant genetic abnormalities associated with tumour growth across multiple cancer types. In India, RET gene fusions are found in approximately 1–2% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.