India records an estimated 80,000 new lung cancer cases every year.

Hospitals in India may soon spend significantly less time administering lung cancer treatment as a new drug delivery method changes how immunotherapy is given to patients. Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche has introduced a subcutaneous version of its lung cancer drug atezolizumab under the brand Tecentriq SC.

One of the biggest shifts comes in hospital workflow, where treatment sessions that earlier required intravenous infusion lasting several hours can now be completed in about four to eight minutes. On average, patients receive the injection in nearly seven minutes, reducing dependency on infusion rooms and long monitoring cycles.

The company says the new method reduces overall administration time by nearly 80 percent. Medical officials associated with Roche Pharma India noted that the process removes the need for extensive preparation steps, helping hospitals manage higher patient volumes more efficiently.

India records an estimated 80,000 new lung cancer cases every year, with a large share detected at advanced stages, making faster treatment delivery systems increasingly important for oncology care infrastructure.

However, the therapy remains positioned in the premium segment, with a cost of around Rs 3.7 lakh per dose. Despite the price point, Roche maintains that the subcutaneous version offers similar safety and effectiveness to its intravenous counterpart while improving patient convenience.

By reducing hospital time and simplifying drug administration, the company believes the innovation could support broader access to immunotherapy in high-demand cancer treatment settings across India.

(With Inputs from PTI)