India’s first oral chemo drug for Leukaemia developed by Tata Memorial Hospital

India’s first oral suspension of the chemotherapy drug has been developed by the Tata Memorial Hospital.

The drug named PREVAL has been developed with a collaboration with Advanced Centre for Training Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC).

This seminal development is meant to revolutionise cancer treatment, specifically hematologic malignancies such as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, and give a more precise and child-friendly alternative to traditional tablets.

Mercaptopurine is a medication used in the treatment of a specific type of cancer, particularly Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. The medication belongs to the class of drugs known as antimetabolites, which is majorly responsible to interfere with the growth and division of cancer cells.

How to use PREVALL?

PREVALL can used by mixing 10mg of the medicine with 100 ml liquid. It also comes with a syringe and a Press In Bottle Adapter for precise dosing based on a patient’s weight or body surface area.

The Indian Express reported that Dr Girish Chinnaswamy, head of paediatric oncology department at the hospital, emphasised the importance of optimal care for children with curable cancers.

“The formulations like PREVALL contribute to dose optimisation, enhancing adherence, and maximising drug efficacy. PREVALL’s launch is a major advancement, offering a more accurate and kid-friendly alternative to tablets. Previously, crushing tablets or alternate dosing was common for children," he said.