KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 16
Essential anti-cancer drugs have been introduced in the country to make them easily available to patients battling the deadly non-communicable disease.
The drugs were rolled out following the issuance of a marketing licence by the Department of Drug Administration, the national medicine regulatory authority in Nepal.
According to Tizig Pharma Pvt Ltd, it was the first anti-drug manufacturing company licensed by the DDA. Speaking at a programme organised in Kathmandu today, executive director of the company Shailesh Vaidya said it had obtained market approval for three molecules from the DDA to manufacture, sell and distribute anti-cancer drugs within Nepal. It has also been given market approval letter for an additional one molecule regarding the export of anti-cancer drugs.
"We are the first drug manufacturing company operated with foreign investment entering into a technology transfer agreement with a leading anti-cancer manufacturing company in Hyderabad, India, as per the World Health Organisation guideline and prevailing law of Nepal," Vaidya claimed.
He further said the company had fully adhered to WHO guideline, Drugs Act, 1978, Section 3 of the existing Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act, and other rules and regulations.
"It is a model pharmaceutical company of Nepal and is based on innovative and state-of-theart technology in consonance with the Good Manufacturing Practice Standard of the WHO and the National GMP Code, 2018 of Nepal. Manufacturing of other medicines are not permitted in the factory which manufactures anti-cancer drugs, due to toxicity," he informed.
The company is situated at Nala of Banepa Municipality, Kavre. So far, it has obtained market approval for 27 molecules from the DDA to manufacture anti-cancer drugs. Of them, five are harmacopeial and others are non-pharmacopeial.
Vaidya said the price of domestic drugs would be more affordable and accessible compared to that of foreign counterparts, adding that high priority would be accorded to ensure the quality, efficacy and safety of drugs as per the interest of cancer patients in general.
As per the company, the drugs are lab-tested and analysed through a third party on a regular basis for independent verification of their quality, in addition to calibration and validation of all machines and equipment.
The drugs are in the form of tablets and capsules. "We are also planning to manufacture injection-based drugs," Vaidya informed.
Senior oncologist Dr Bisnu Datta Paudel, executive director at Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, said manufacturing of anti-cancer drugs within the country was a matter of pride.
He urged the company to maintain the quality of domestic drugs.
Oncologist Dr Madan Piya urged the company to accord higher priority for treatment of domestic patients. Santosh KC, a DDC official, said the quality of drugs remained the core service being provided to patients.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 17, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
