Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited announced that one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries has launched a novel anti-cancer drug, Palbociclib in India for patients who have advanced breast cancer, the most common cancer among women in the country.

The company will make the drug available under the brand name, PALENO (Palbociclib) 75 mg, 100 mg, 125 mg.

Kirti Ganorkar, CEO – India Business, Sun Pharma said, "We are introducing Palbociclib at an affordable price which will help improve patient access. PALENO will address the treatment needs of several advanced breast cancer patients in India. For the first time, we are introducing a unique patient assistance program that will improve patient compliance and accessibility."

Palbociclib is approved by the USFDA, EMA and CDSCO in combination with hormonal therapies for patients with hormone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the largest form of cancer in India, affecting approximately 0.21 million new female patients every year. Among the total patients, approximately 50% are hormone receptor positive breast cancer, the major subtype in breast cancer. Though hormone receptor positive breast cancer patients have shown better survival than other subtypes, they may progress to or present with metastatic disease.