The government proposes to cut custom duties on Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib and Durvalumab from 10 percent to nil.
Published Jul 23, 2024 | 3:33 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 23, 2024 | 5:24 PM
Three cancer drugs exempted from custom duties. (Supplied)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday, 23 July, while presenting the first full-term budget for the new NDA government, proposed to fully exempt three cancer medicines from custom duties.
“To provide relief to cancer patients, I propose to fully exempt three more medicines from customs duties,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said while presenting the Union Budget for 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha.
The government proposes to cut custom duties on Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib and Durvalumab from 10 percent to nil.
Trastuzumab Deruxtecan: This is an antibody-drug conjugate used primarily to treat HER2 (Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2) positive breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic). It is also being studied for use in other types of cancer, such as gastric cancer.
Osimertinib: This is a targeted therapy used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with specific mutations in the EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) gene. It is particularly effective against cancers that have developed resistance to earlier generations of EGFR inhibitors.
Durvalumab: This is an immunotherapy drug that works by blocking the PD-L1 protein, helping the immune system to attack cancer cells. It is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer).
Trastuzumab Deruxtecan: This is commonly prescribed for patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer who have not responded to other treatments. It is relatively new but has shown significant promise in clinical trials.
Osimertinib: This is widely prescribed for patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. It is often used as a first-line treatment and is also prescribed for patients whose cancer has progressed despite other EGFR inhibitors.
Durvalumab: This is commonly used in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer and bladder cancer, particularly after initial treatments have failed. It is also used in combination with other treatments to enhance efficacy.
Speaking about the exemption, Dr Mandeep Singh Malhotra, Director of Surgical Oncology at CK Birla Hospital said, “Exempting these drugs from basic customs duty will lower their import costs, making them more affordable for patients. This can improve access to advanced cancer treatments, reduce the financial burden on patients and their families, and potentially improve treatment outcomes by allowing more patients to benefit from these effective therapies.”
FICCI Health Services Committee Chairman and Founder & Chairman Mahajan Imaging & Labs Harsh Mahajan too welcomed the exemption of customs duty on these three life-saving medicines for cancer treatment..
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)
