Piramal Life Sciences Ltd (PLSL) has announced that it has got regulatory approval by Drug Controller General of India to start two phase I/II combination studies of its cancer molecule P276 for neck, head and pancreatic cancer.
 
According to company, approximately 2,00,000 and 6,00,000 people suffering from such cancers diagnosed in India and worldwide respectively.

“The conventional treatment for head and neck cancer is chemotherapy and radiation as the first line therapy or as chemotherapy after surgery. These treatments are associated with unwanted side effects,” the company also said.

The company will conduct the studies with the intention to discover the secure as well as effectual doses of P276 to be given to the patients along with chemotherapeutic medications and to quantify the benefit of the same in the patients suffering from pancreatic, head and neck cancers.

Ms Swati Piramal, Director, Piramal Group said, “We are also conducting such studies in other countries such as the US and Australia. The total investment on these studies will be about Rs 5-10 crore.”

P276, which is an inhibitor of key enzymes, is involved in the uncontrolled dissection and maturation of cancer cells.

P276 is being formulated to treat different types of cancers for which there are not enough treatment options available.

Multiple phase II and Phase I/II trials are presently happening in USA and India.  

On Wednesday (May 13), the stock of the company closed at Rs 51.50, up 5.1%, on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).