Mumbai: Biotechnology major Biocon has launched ''Biomab-EGFR'', a therapeutic monoclonal anti-body-based drug for treating head and neck cancers. The new drug is engineered to specifically target solid tumours of epithelial origin.

The drug blocks the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) responsible for the proliferation of cancer cells. Biomab-EGFR would be available as a unit carton of four 10 ml vials across the country, Biocon informed the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Biomab-EFGR targets the human EGFR, a type of protein found on the surface of both normal and cancer cells and in many cancer cells EGFR is overproduced, leading to their uncontrolled and abnormal growth.

"This launch spearheads Biocon''s foray into proprietary immuno-therapeutics and today we join the exclusive league of monoclonal antibody developers worldwide. Biomab-EGFR is competitively priced, making cancer treatment more affordable. We aspire to become a key player in this segment," Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairman and managing director of Biocon said.

The product has shown consistent results in clinical trials initiated both in India and globally and would be produced at its manufacturing facility - Biocon Park.

This is the first cancer drug to be clinically developed in India and is the first anti-EGFR humanised monoclonal antibody for cancer, the company said, adding the drug would be made available commercially the world over.