Over 22,000 New Cases in India AstraZeneca Gets CDSCO Green Light for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Drug

AstraZeneca Pharma India has secured approval from CDSCO to import and distribute Durvalumab for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), expanding treatment options for thousands of patients. The new indication allows Durvalumab to be used in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin as neoadjuvant therapy in adults with MIBC.

Bladder cancer is among the top 10 cancers globally, with over 600,000 new diagnoses and 220,000 deaths worldwide in 2022. In India alone, 22,500 new cases and more than 12,000 deaths were reported last year.

AstraZeneca’s Country President Praveen Akkinepally emphasized the urgent need to close treatment gaps in high-burden countries like India and accelerate access to advanced therapies. Durvalumab is already approved locally for various cancers, including both non-small cell and small cell lung cancer, biliary tract, liver, and endometrial cancers.

This regulatory nod marks a significant step in improving outcomes for Indian patients suffering from aggressive forms of bladder cancer.