By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Feb. 18: Anti-cancer drugs produced for the first time in Nepal is now available in the market. Tizig Pharma Pvt. Ltd. (TPPL), a foreign investment-based Nepali drug manufacturer, has launched locally produced anti-cancer drugs for the first time in the Nepali market.

The anti-cancer drug is made available at the market after receiving a license from the Department of Drug Administrative Office. With this, the TPPL has become the first company to produce anti-cancer drugs in Nepal.
According to the TPPL, it is the first in its type of life-saving drugs manufactured by domestic companies.

Shailesh Vaidya, executive director of the company, said they have received approval to sell three molecules related to the treatment of the fatal disease from their production unit based in Nala of Kavrepalanchok district.
The company has started production of anti-cancer drugs in Nepal by signing a technology transfer agreement with an anti-cancer drug manufacturing company in Hyderabad, India.

Executive Director Vaidya claimed that the industry is a model company of Nepal built in accordance with the GMP standard
of the World Health Organization and the Drug Registration Guidance 2073.

So far, the company has obtained approval for production of 27 molecules in total from the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) to manufacture anti-cancer drugs. Indian investors with an investment of Rs. 320 million have established the TPPL.
The anti-cancer drugs are available in tablet and capsule forms, said Baidhya and added that the company has also planned to produce injection-based drugs in near future.

There is no production of medicines for serious diseases of the heart, kidney and other organs inside the country. Baidhya claimed that the locally produced anti-cancer drug is available at a lower cost compared to the imported drugs. Also, there will be less possibility for drug shortage in the market as production has begun locally.
Speaking at a drug launching programme, Dr. Bishnu Dutta, senior oncologist, said, “It is a matter of pride that anti-cancer drug is being manufactured in Nepal.” The company should focus on the quality of the drug, he added.

Dr. Madan Piya, senior oncologist, emphasised that locally produced anti-cancer drug should be prioritised for domestic citizens.
Likewise, Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal chairperson Prajwal Jung Pandey asserted that the production of anti-cancer drugs in Nepal showed that Nepal could manufacture any sort of drugs. He pointed out the need to make Nepal self-reliant in drugs by manufacturing drugs like anti-cancer drugs.

Santosh KC, spokesperson for DDA, urged the manufacturers of anti-cancer drug to ensure quality of the drugs.