Singapore: Indian drug major Hetero recently announced the launch of biosimilar of 'Bevacizumab', used in treating metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), under the brand name 'CizumabTM'. Hyderabad-based Hetero is one of the world's largest producer of anti-retroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

Approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), the drug is used as a first-line treatment for mCRC, Hetero said in a statement. Commenting on the launch, Mr BPS Reddy, CMD, Hetero, said, ""It has been an exciting journey for us in biologics. Hetero's Bevacizumab is the third product in our biologics portfolio, after Darbepoetin alfa and Rituximab. We believe CizumabTM will be a cost-effective treatment option to patients."

The drug will be marketed and distributed by Hetero Healthcare Limited, a group company of Hetero. The product will be made available to patients in a single dose vial with two strengths, 100 mg and 400 mg. The product will be manufactured in Hetero's dedicated state-of-the-art Biologics facility based in Hyderabad, India.

The estimated annual incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) worldwide is 1.3 million, making it the third most common cancer in males and the second most common cancer in females. There is asteady rise in number of cases observed in India, says a study. An analysis of the "Cancer Incidence in Five Continents" database shows an increase in CRC incidence in resource-constrained countries, including India, with a significantly higher proportion of early-onset cancers.