BIACH and Oncoshot India Partnership Brings Cancer Clinical Trials to the Less Privileged
Nilesh Atre, 31 January 2023
Dr Nilesh Atre, director of operations for Oncoshot India (left) with Dr T Subramanyeshwar Rao medical director and chief of surgical oncology for BIACH (right) after the MOU signing.
Earlier last year, Oncoshot India signed an MOU with the Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital (BIACH) in May. This is one of the first of its kind in India when it comes to cancer patient matching for clinical trials. They have since implemented the Oncoshot platform in BIACH hospitals with strategic and operational level execution. Strategically, the execution received excellent support from the higher management and leadership of BIACH. Operationally, this required extending the Oncoshot tools and services to the clinical benefit of the oncologists, caregivers, cancer patients, and their families.
India’s 2022 reported cancer incidence was estimated to be 1.9 to 2 million. However, the real incidence is pegged to be 1.5 to 3 times higher than reported. Furthermore, cancer incidence is often detected at late stages for major cancer types in India. India’s high cancer burden translates into a high economic burden when it results in productivity losses and premature mortality and is largely fueled by a lack of awareness and low penetration of screening programs.
In the last decade, clinical trials have been the point of careful examination in India. Trials are often depicted as a commercial activity by the media rather than a scientific endeavour to resolve public health questions. The debate must shift towards guiding the public to make informed choices about trial participation.
BIACH was inaugurated by then Prime Minister of India Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2000. Based in Hyderabad, it is one of the premier dedicated cancer institutes in South India. BIACH was started to provide world-class cancer treatment at an affordable cost to patients and has grown many-fold in size with over 500 beds now. It bestows care and treatment on par with the quality of treatment available to everyone at an affordable price to prove that quality treatment and facilities are as much the right of the less privileged as it is the right of those who can afford to go abroad for reliable and modern treatment.
The hospital’s objective is to serve the community and is run on a not-for-profit basis. It is a national-level healthcare institution specialising in cancer capabilities in research and education.
“We are excited about this win-win opportunity for both our organisations. Our clinical teams work closely with Oncoshot India and it's been an excellent collaboration experience so far,” said Dr Suseela Kodandapani, head of the pathology department at BIACH.
Dr Suseela (middle) and Dr Nilesh with the clinical research coordination team at BIACH.
“It began with a conceptual meeting between Dr T S Rao and Dr Nilesh Atre that within a couple of months developed to include Dr Prabhakar Rao, Dr Senthil, our oncologists, and clinical teams. Thus we were able to plan and implement the Oncoshot collaboration project at Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital.
Our oncologists and clinical teams are eager to utilise the unique values of the Oncoshot platform to benefit cancer patients and their families and caregivers. We are looking forward to the rapid expansion of the Oncoshot ecosystem across India. This will help our oncologists and patients to leverage the clinical benefits of the platform at a national level.”
Dr Suseela has been instrumental in leading the collaboration effort with Oncoshot India on behalf of the leadership team of BIACH which includes:
Dr Prabhakar Rao, CEO
Dr T S Rao, medical director and chief of surgical oncology
Dr Senthil J Rajappa, director and head of medical oncology
Together, they led this collaborative effort with a uniquely progressive vision for the welfare of cancer patients and their families.
Oncoshot India plans to complete the first phase of its operational collaboration with the BIACH in the coming year. This will be followed by a re-evaluation and modified planning of the overall operational strategy for the long-term collaboration between Oncoshot and BIACH.