‘We have six new drugs in the pipeline’
NEW DELHI: India is gradually gaining importance in the global plans of $49-billion biologics giant Roche. Maturin Tchoumi, managing director, Roche India, who took charge about 20 months ago after leading operations in South Africa, is optimistic about the company’s growth prospects in India and is continuously exploring opportunities under the government’s ‘Make in India’ programme. Excerpts from an interview with HT:
How significant is the Indian market for Roche?
India has always been important. Although it is a fragmented market and has its own challenges, we are optimistic about our growth. There is a need for newer medicines and we are focused on working with a range of partners.
Roche is focused on and investing in emerging markets, especially India, which is why market access — a key issue in emerging markets — is important for us. We will continue to develop strategies where both (market) access and innovation needs are suitably addressed.
How many new drugs will Roche roll out in India?
We have six new molecular entities in late-stage pipeline in several therapy areas including lung cancer, leukemia and multiple sclerosis, for which we expect to receive the results in the near future. We are committed to bringing our global innovation portfolio to Indian patients as soon as possible, subject to regulatory approvals.
Global drug makers are simmering with discontent over the extension of price controls by the Indian government? What are your views?
We understand that overall healthcare costs are rising in India. It is important to remember that India’s public health spending is among the lowest in the world. We are working with all partners in the Indian healthcare system to find solutions... like differential pricing and patient assistance programmes.
Under the government’s flagship programme ‘Make in India’ several international companies are setting up plants here. What are you plans?
While we do not currently manufacture in India, Roche has entered into a licensing agreement with Curadev, a private Indian company, to develop small molecules in cancer immunotherapy. It reiterates our commitment to India. We are continuously exploring opportunities that will help us develop potential high quality medicines here.
When Novartis lost its patent case for cancer drug Glivec, Indian patent law attracted severe criticism from global drug makers. What are your concerns over the regime?
There is a significant need for regulatory authorities in India, to share more information about the scientific and medical assessment of new drugs as part of the local marketing authorisation processes. The patent environment is evolving in India. For instance, the Delhi High Court’s recent decision to uphold the patent covering Erlotinib hydrochloride in India was a welcome development.
In recent past, India-made drugs have come under global regulator scrutiny including US Federal Drug Administration and Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency of the UK. What do you feel about this trend?
We think it is absolutely necessary that all manufacturers comply with the highest good manufacturing practices standards. Also, in order to ensure the safety, we think that the development and manufacturing of biosimilars in this country must be subject to rigorous clinical and regulatory standards as well as postmarketing pharmaco-vigilance protections.