Glenmark Launches Cancer Drug Tevimbra In India, Marking Immune-Oncology Foray

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. on Tuesday launched Tevimbra in India after receiving approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, marking its entry into the immune-oncology segment.

Tevimbra is an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody developed by global oncology firm BeOne Medicines. The drug is indicated for the first-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in combination with chemotherapy, as well as for second-line treatment of the same cancer type and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma as monotherapy.

The launch is a key step in Glenmark’s plan to expand its innovative oncology portfolio. Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for over 80% of all lung cancer cases, while esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is the most prevalent esophageal cancer subtype in India, the company said.

"Immuno-oncology offers a promising future... our foray in this area marks a significant inflection point in our journey to build a world-class oncology portfolio," said Alok Malik, president and business head – India formulations.

Already approved in the US, EU, Australia, and China, Tevimbra is designed to restore T-cell function with minimal off-target immune suppression. Glenmark said the drug has shown strong efficacy and a favourable safety profile across various solid tumours in several Phase 3 trials.