AstraZeneca receives CDSCO nod for drug to treat biliary tract cancer

AstraZeneca India received approval from CDSCO the domestic drug regulator to market a drug to treat biliary tract cancer (BTC) in the country.

BTC is a group of rare and aggressive gastrointestinal (GI) cancers that form in the cells of the bile ducts (cholangiocarcinoma), gallbladder or ampulla of Vater (where the bile duct and pancreatic duct connect to the small intestine).

There are over 30,000 new cases of BTC seen in India every year with 90 per cent of them diagnosed in the advanced stage. "The approval underpins our commitment to transform patient outcomes by harnessing the power of science while addressing high unmet need," AstraZeneca India MD and Country President Sanjeev Panchal said.