India's pharma market saw 3,151 new brands joining the pharma market in the past 12 months, a sign of the pharma industry growing at a fast rate and the therapeutic landscape changing dynamically. AstraZeneca's Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) led the sales list, a sign of the increasing incidence of cancer, particularly breast cancer, in India.

Key Highlights:
Pharmaceutical Brand Surge:
3,151 new brands joined India's pharma market in the past 12 months.

AstraZeneca's Enhertu Tops Sales:

• Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) saw the highest sales of ₹57.9 crore and became India's leading brand.

• Enhertu was exempted from customs duty last year as part of the government effort to make healthcare more affordable.

Rising Incidence of Cancer Drives Demand:

• Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the world, and over 2 million cases were reported in 2020 alone, says the World Health Organization (WHO).

• In India, the incidence of breast cancer is rising, and this suggests the demand for better treatments such as Enhertu.

Regulatory Approvals Drive Sales:
AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited gained dual approval from India's drug regulator to expand Enhertu's indications for the treatment of:

• HER2-low metastatic breast cancer

• HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma

Market Performance of Top Pharma Players:
The domestic pharma market registered total revenues of ₹1,096.9 crore, according to IQVIA data.

• AstraZeneca led the way with ₹57.9 crore sales of Enhertu.

• Sun Pharma was second with ₹49.9 crore sales of 18 brands.

• Dr Reddy's Laboratories (DRL) earned ₹44.9 crore from 51 brands.

Industry Experts' Quotes:
Pharma Executive:
"The expansion of trastuzumab deruxtecan's indications has opened the door to better therapeutic alternatives in the treatment of HER2-low metastatic breast cancer and HER2-positive gastric cancers."The rise of new brand drugs and popularity of cancer drugs such as Enhertu show the increasing healthcare demands in India, especially in oncology. With the government's persistent attempts to improve the accessibility and affordability of life-saving drugs, the Indian pharmaceutical sector is set for long-term expansion. AstraZeneca's success with Enhertu also shows the prospects of new cancer treatments in addressing the increasing healthcare demands in India.