Cost of Immunotherapy in India

The cost of immunotherapy in India per session generally ranges from ₹1,50,000 ($1,830) to ₹4,55,000 ($5,550). It is an innovative treatment for various cancers, and its costs are influenced by several factors, including the type of therapy used and the patient's specific needs.

Dr. Donald Babu, an Oncologist in Mumbai, said "Immunotherapy is a powerful treatment that boosts the body's immune system to fight cancer. It helps target and destroy cancer cells effectively, offering new hope for patients with certain types of cancer where traditional treatments may not be as effective. This approach can lead to better outcomes and potentially fewer side effects than other therapies."

This guide will provide detailed insights into all expenses related to the cost of immunotherapy in India, helping you understand the financial aspects and reasons to consider this therapy.

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The cost of immunotherapy in India is comparatively low and much more economical. Depending on the patient's condition, numerous immunotherapy sessions occur per month or at an interval (varies with patients).

Which Cancer Treated by Immunotherapy?

Depending on the type of cancer, immunotherapy treatment costs in India vary. Here is a detailed cost breakdown. We have listed the costs of immunotherapy treatments in India for different prominent types of cancers:

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1. Bladder cancer

Immunotherapy in India is given for advanced bladder cancer as a first-line treatment for those who are ineligible for cisplatin chemotherapy.

Immunotherapy improves the outcome of bladder cancer, reduces the risk of recurrence, and improves the patient's survival rate.

BCG is the first approved immunotherapy and stimulates the immune response, which targets the bacteria and bladder cancer cells nearby.

The drugs used in immunotherapy for bladder cancer are:

1. Atezolizumab (Tecentriq)
2. Durvalumab (Imfinzi)
3. Nivolumab (Opdivo®)
4. Pembrolizumab (keytruda)

The 5 – year survival rate for patients with bladder cancer in advanced stages is 34% and in the case of metastases, it is 5%.

The cost of drugs of immunotherapy in India for bladder cancer is:

2. Breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women. You can find one of India's top breast cancer doctors for a better success rate.

Atezolizumab (Tecentriq) is the first immunotherapy drug approved in India to treat triple-negative breast cancer.

Other immunotherapy drugs are being tested in breast cancer clinical trials, some of which have shown excellent results.

The cost of drugs of immunotherapy in India for breast cancer are:

3. Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer seen in women in the world. Most of the cases of cervical cancer are associated with HPV (human papillomavirus) infection.

Preventive are given to contain the infection by HPV that can cause cervical cancer.

The 5 – year survival rate for patients with cervical cancer in the advanced stage is 17%.

The cost of drugs of immunotherapy in India for cervical cancer are:

4. Colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer refers to both colon cancer and rectal cancer.

Immunotherapy can be given in two types. A monoclonal antibody targets the EGFR pathway, or it can target the VEGF/ VEGFR2 pathway and prevent target tumor blood vessel growth.

The 5 – year survival rate for patients with colorectal cancer in the advanced stage is 15%.

The cost of drugs of immunotherapy in India for colorectal cancer are:

5. Oesophageal cancer

The two main types of oesophageal cancer are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Immunotherapy for oesophageal cancer works in three ways:

• A monoclonal antibody targets the VEGF/VEGFR2 pathway and restricts tumor blood vessel growth.
• A monoclonal antibody targets the HER2 pathway.
• An immune checkpoint inhibitor targets the PD – 1/PD – L1 pathway.

The 5 – year survival rate for patients with Oesophageal cancer in the advanced stage is 5%.

The cost of drugs of immunotherapy in India for oesophageal cancer are:

6. Immunotherapy for head and neck cancer

Head and neck cancer include different types of cancer, including the mouth, throat, voice box, nose cavity, and salivary glands.

Immunotherapy for head and neck cancer can be given in two ways:

• A monoclonal antibody targets the EGFR pathway
• A checkpoint inhibitor targeting the P – 1/ PD – L1 pathway

The cost of drugs of immunotherapy in India for head and neck cancer are:

7. Kidney cancer

Almost 9 out of 10 people suffering from kidney cancer have renal cell carcinomas, which are cancer forms in the lining of the tubules inside the kidney.

Immunotherapy is given as immune-stimulating chemicals called cytokines for advanced cancer.

The 5 – year survival rate for patients with kidney cancer in the advanced stage is 5%.

The cost of drugs of immunotherapy in India for kidney cancer are:

Additional costs:

Immunotherapy costs in India certainly accompany other expenses. Before the treatment, the doctor will prescribe a few tests to know whether the person is healthy enough to receive immunotherapy.

Considering a few factors before you plan finances for your cancer treatment will give you a more accurate idea of overall expenses.

Factors Affecting Immunotherapy Costs in India

The immunotherapy costs in the top hospitals in India for cancer can be different for different patients. The following factors play a major role in deciding the cost of immunotherapy:

• Metastasis of cancer
• Type of cancer
• Health of the patient
• Duration of the treatment
• Treatment plan

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Cost Comparison of Immunotherapy in India and developed countries:

Immunotherapy cost in India is very low compared to other countries like the US, UK, and Singapore.

The above graph shows a huge difference in the cost of immunotherapy in India and other countries.

You might be wondering why immunotherapy for cancer in India is less as compared with other developed nations. Let's take a look at why. 

Let us tell you why there is such a wide difference in the cost between the countries:

• Indian currency: The major reason for this huge difference in immunotherapy cost in India is the currency. The Indian currency is quite low compared to the dollar, euro, etc. Thus, the treatment cost is lower than in other countries.
• Living cost: The living cost in India is almost 65% lower than in other developed countries. Therefore, you can get all the facilities at a very low cost.
• Competition: India is a place with abundant choices of hospitals, all of which offer a variety of medical treatments. 

Success Rate of Immunotherapy in India

The success rate of immunotherapy in India has seen a tremendous increase. The five-year survival rate of immunotherapy has increased from 5.5% in 2012 to 28 % in 2019. While other cancer treatments, like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, etc., cannot give this high survival rate for stage IV cancer, immunotherapy becomes one of the leading choices to get better results. Immunotherapy has successfully treated 15 types of cancers, including skin, lung, kidney, and bladder cancers, and the number is expanding.

In an article by The Hindu, Dr. Shripad Banavali, head of academics and professor of pediatric and medical oncology at Tata Memorial Hospital, said that immunotherapy is the most promising area in cancer right now.

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