Alembic's affiliate Rhizen bags US regulator nod for oral cancer drug

Company says a critical cancer inhibiting component in the formulation is the first new chemical entity discovered by Indian scientists to secure US FDA nod

In what could further boost Alembic Pharmaceutical's oncology business, its co-owned clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm Rhizen Pharmaceuticals AG has bagged US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) nod for an oral drug indicated in treating lymphoma.

Umbralisib is indicated for treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) who have received at least one prior anti-CD20-based regimen and for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) who have received at least three prior lines of systemic therapy. 

According to Alembic Pharma managing director Pranav Amin, what sets the drug apart is that the