Breast Cancer Medicines in India: Imported Treatments by Type
QUICK ANSWERBreast cancer is the most common cancer in Indian women, with an estimated 2,37,231 new cases in 2024 [1]. Many newer medicines for HR-positive, HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer are approved in the US or China but are not yet sold in Indian pharmacies. Named Patient Program (NPP) arranges 19 such medicines for individual patients, against a valid prescription from their oncologist.
2,37,231
new breast cancer cases in India in 2024 – the No. 1 cancer in Indian women (30.4% of female cancers)
Source: IARC GLOBOCAN 2024 [1]
96,100
breast cancer deaths in India in 2024
Source: IARC GLOBOCAN 2024 [1]
31%
of breast cancers in Indian studies were triple-negative, much higher than in the US (about 11%)
Source: J Glob Oncol 2016; NCI SEER [3, 4]
2.4 million
women were diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide in 2024
Source: WHO [2]
Types of breast cancer and why the type decides the medicine
After a biopsy, the pathology report tells your doctor whether the cancer has hormone receptors (ER/PR) and whether it makes too much HER2. These two results sort most breast cancers into three main types. A fourth group is defined by an inherited BRCA gene change. Each type responds to different medicines, which is why the same medicine is not used for every patient.
| Type | What the test shows | How common | Main medicine groups |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR-positive, HER2-negative | ER and/or PR positive, HER2 negative | About 70% of cases in the US [4] | CDK4/6 inhibitors with hormone therapy, PI3K/AKT inhibitors, oral SERDs, antibody-drug conjugates |
| HER2-positive | Extra HER2 protein or gene copies | About 13% in the US [4]; 27% in Indian studies [3] | HER2-targeted tablets and HER2 antibody-drug conjugates |
| Triple-negative (TNBC) | ER, PR and HER2 all negative | About 11% in the US [4]; 31% in Indian studies [3] | TROP2 antibody-drug conjugates, chemotherapy |
| BRCA-mutated | Inherited change in BRCA1 or BRCA2 | Tested separately (blood or saliva) | PARP inhibitors |
US figures: NCI SEER, cases 2019–2023. India figures: meta-analysis of published Indian studies; groups overlap, so they do not add up to 100%.
Imported breast cancer medicines by type
All 19 medicines below are prescription-only. Tap a type to filter. Each card opens the full medicine page with dosage, storage and safety details.
Kisqali
ribociclib · Tablet
With hormone therapy for HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer, and after surgery in high-risk early (stage II-III) disease
HR+/HER2- US FDA
Truqap
capivasertib · Tablet
With fulvestrant for HR+/HER2- advanced disease with a PIK3CA, AKT1 or PTEN change
HR+/HER2- US FDA
Itovebi
inavolisib · Tablet
With palbociclib and fulvestrant for PIK3CA-mutated, endocrine-resistant advanced disease
HR+/HER2- US FDA
Orserdu
elacestrant · Tablet
For ER+/HER2-, ESR1-mutated advanced disease after at least one hormone therapy
HR+/HER2- US FDA
Inluriyo
imlunestrant · Tablet
Alone or with abemaciclib for ER+/HER2-, ESR1-mutated advanced disease
HR+/HER2- US FDA
Veppanu
vepdegestrant · Tablet
For ER+/HER2-, ESR1-mutated advanced disease after hormone therapy
HR+/HER2- US FDA
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Datroway
datopotamab deruxtecan · IV infusion
For HR+/HER2- disease after hormone therapy and chemotherapy, and for TNBC when PD-1/PD-L1 therapy is not suitable
HR+/HER2-Triple-negative US FDA
Bireociclib
bireociclib · Tablet
With hormone therapy for HR+/HER2- advanced disease
HR+/HER2- China NMPA
Culmerciclib
culmerciclib · Capsule
With fulvestrant for HR+/HER2- advanced disease
HR+/HER2- China NMPA
Fovinaciclib
fovinaciclib citrate · Capsule
With hormone therapy for HR+/HER2- advanced disease
HR+/HER2- China NMPA
Lerociclib
lerociclib · Tablet
With hormone therapy for HR+/HER2- advanced disease
HR+/HER2- China NMPA
Tibremciclib
tibremciclib · Capsule
With fulvestrant after earlier hormone therapy
HR+/HER2- China NMPA
Nerlynx
neratinib · Tablet
Extended treatment after trastuzumab in early HER2+ disease; with capecitabine in advanced disease
HER2+ US FDA
Trastuzumab Rezetecan
trastuzumab rezetecan · IV infusion
Advanced HER2+ disease after earlier anti-HER2 treatment
HER2+ China NMPA
Trastuzumab Botidotin
trastuzumab botidotin · IV infusion
Unresectable or metastatic HER2+ disease after earlier anti-HER2 treatment
HER2+ China NMPA
Trodelvy
sacituzumab govitecan · IV infusion
Unresectable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, first-line in some patients and later lines
Triple-negative US FDA
Sacituzumab Tirumotecan
sacituzumab tirumotecan · IV infusion
Advanced TNBC after at least two earlier treatments
Triple-negative China NMPA
Talzenna
talazoparib · Capsule
Germline BRCA-mutated, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer
BRCA US FDA
Farmorubicin
epirubicin · IV infusion
Part of combination chemotherapy after surgery for node-positive breast cancer
After surgery US FDA
Compare all 19 breast cancer medicines
| Medicine | Generic name | Breast cancer type | Form | Approved by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kisqali | ribociclib | HR+/HER2- | Tablet | US FDA |
| Truqap | capivasertib | HR+/HER2- | Tablet | US FDA |
| Itovebi | inavolisib | HR+/HER2- | Tablet | US FDA |
| Orserdu | elacestrant | HR+/HER2- | Tablet | US FDA |
| Inluriyo | imlunestrant | HR+/HER2- | Tablet | US FDA |
| Veppanu | vepdegestrant | HR+/HER2- | Tablet | US FDA |
| Datroway | datopotamab deruxtecan | HR+/HER2-, Triple-negative | IV infusion | US FDA |
| Bireociclib | bireociclib | HR+/HER2- | Tablet | China NMPA |
| Culmerciclib | culmerciclib | HR+/HER2- | Capsule | China NMPA |
| Fovinaciclib | fovinaciclib citrate | HR+/HER2- | Capsule | China NMPA |
| Lerociclib | lerociclib | HR+/HER2- | Tablet | China NMPA |
| Tibremciclib | tibremciclib | HR+/HER2- | Capsule | China NMPA |
| Nerlynx | neratinib | HER2+ | Tablet | US FDA |
| Trastuzumab Rezetecan | trastuzumab rezetecan | HER2+ | IV infusion | China NMPA |
| Trastuzumab Botidotin | trastuzumab botidotin | HER2+ | IV infusion | China NMPA |
| Trodelvy | sacituzumab govitecan | Triple-negative | IV infusion | US FDA |
| Sacituzumab Tirumotecan | sacituzumab tirumotecan | Triple-negative | IV infusion | China NMPA |
| Talzenna | talazoparib | BRCA | Capsule | US FDA |
| Farmorubicin | epirubicin | After surgery | IV infusion | US FDA |
Tests your doctor may ask for
Several of these medicines are approved only when a specific test is positive, so the test report usually comes before the prescription.
| Test | What it looks for | Medicines that need it |
|---|---|---|
| ER / PR (IHC) | Hormone receptors on the cancer cells | All HR+/HER2- medicines above |
| HER2 (IHC / ISH) | Extra HER2 protein or gene copies | Nerlynx, Trastuzumab Rezetecan, Trastuzumab Botidotin |
| PIK3CA / AKT1 / PTEN | Gene changes in the tumour | Truqap, Itovebi |
| ESR1 mutation | Change in the oestrogen receptor gene, often after hormone therapy | Orserdu, Inluriyo, Veppanu |
| Germline BRCA1/2 | Inherited BRCA change (blood or saliva test) | Talzenna |
How to get these breast cancer medicines in India
1
Prescription
Your oncologist prescribes the medicine.
2
Share documents
Send the prescription and latest reports through Online Order.
3
Import paperwork
Our team checks the source and the import permissions.
4
Delivery
Delivered with the right storage, including cold chain.
Read How to Order and Indian import regulations. We also serve patients in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata.
Has your oncologist prescribed one of these medicines?
Share the prescription and we will guide you on availability and next steps.
Read more about breast cancer
- Triple-negative breast cancer: symptoms and treatment
- HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer explained
- FDA approves Inluriyo with Verzenio
- All Oncology medicines
References
- IARC Global Cancer Observatory. GLOBOCAN 2024 – India fact sheet (September 2026). https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/populations/356-india-fact-sheet.pdf
- World Health Organization. Breast cancer fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cancer
- Sandhu GS et al. Prevalence of triple-negative breast cancer in India: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glob Oncol. 2016. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28717728/
- National Cancer Institute SEER. Cancer Stat Facts: Female breast cancer subtypes. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast-subtypes.html
- US FDA prescribing information for each US-approved medicine (DailyMed). https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/
This page gives general information only and does not replace medical advice. All medicines listed are prescription-only and must be used under a qualified oncologist.