GSK shares gain as it forays into gynaecological cancer treatment in India

Shares of GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd. gained on Monday, August 25, after the company announced its entry into the oncology segment in India with Jemperli and Zejula therapies used for treating gynaecological cancers.Jemperli is the first and only approved programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) immunotherapy for the second-line treatment of mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR)/microsatellite instability-high advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer, in India.

The therapy works by blocking the PD-1 pathway, a mechanism that cancer cells use to evade immune detection, thereby enabling immune cells to recognise and attack the tumour more effectively, GSK said in an exchange filing.

Meanwhile, Zejula is the only PARP (Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase) inhibitor approved as first-line monotherapy maintenance for all biomarker types in advanced ovarian cancer in India, the company said.
GSK also said it is introducing ‘Phoenix’, a patient support programme to empower patients to access these innovative therapies.”These therapies address a critical unmet need in gynaecological cancers in India and represent meaningful progress in women’s cancer care,” Bhushan Akshikar, GSK India’s MD, said.

Dr Shalini Menon, EVP – medical affairs, GSK India, said Jemperli introduces immunotherapy into the treatment paradigm for advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer, offering a targeted option for patients with dMMR tumours. “Zejula expands access to a convenient, first-line maintenance therapy in advanced ovarian cancer.”

GSK shares were up 1% at ₹2,828.5 apiece around 12 pm on Monday.

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