Zydus Launches New Pill for Prostate Cancer

Zydus Lifesciences Ltd., a global innovation driven healthcare company, has announced the launch of Rexigo™, a new oral once-a-day pill for testosterone suppression in patients with advanced prostate cancer. The drug is the first and only generic version of Relugolix, which has been available in developed countries since 2020.

Prostate cancer is one of the leading cancers in men and more than 43,000 cases were reported in India in 2022, according to the National Cancer Registry Program of India. Prostate cancer growth is mainly driven by the male hormone testosterone, which is suppressed by a class of drugs called gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues. The current options for this treatment are all injectables, which require frequent visits to the doctor and can cause side effects such as cardiovascular problems.

Rexigo™ offers a convenient, safe and effective alternative to injections. It is an oral pill that can be taken once a day at home. It rapidly lowers testosterone levels and maintains them throughout the treatment period. It also has a better cardiovascular safety profile than injectables and allows faster recovery of testosterone once the treatment is stopped.

Zydus has made Rexigo™ affordable and accessible to Indian patients, who did not have access to Relugolix before. The drug costs Rs. 6,995 per month, which is 50% less than the injectable options. The drug will be manufactured at the group’s manufacturing premises.

With this launch, Zydus has brought a breakthrough therapy for prostate cancer patients in India, who can now benefit from a completely oral treatment that can improve their quality of life.