LAHORE: Pakistan has developed its first-ever locally-produced vaccine to prevent breast cancer, the Punjab Institute of Public Health (IPH) said on Monday.
Health experts described the development as a milestone that could strengthen Pakistan’s healthcare system and reduce cancer-related deaths among women.
Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman hailed the development as a major achievement, commending the Institute of Public Health for its role in producing the vaccine.
He also noted that the provincial government is prioritizing the health sector and remains committed to further advancements in medical care.
Renowned medical expert Professor Dr. Javed Akram said the vaccine would help in the prevention of breast cancer.
He explained that administering three doses of the vaccine to girls at the age of 12 would provide lifelong protection against the disease.
According to the Pink Ribbon charity organisation, every 24 hours, 109 women lose their lives to breast cancer in Pakistan.
With over 40,000 deaths annually and 90,000 new cases emerging each year, the need for action is greater than ever. However, timely diagnosis and proper treatment can increase survival chances by up to 90%.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved Datroway, a precision medicine developed by AstraZeneca in partnership with Japanese pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo, for the treatment of a specific type of breast cancer, the health regulator announced on Friday.
Datroway is intended for patients with advanced breast cancer who have already undergone prior treatment. The drug, which will be available by prescription in the US within approximately two weeks, is priced at $4,891.07 per vial, according to AstraZeneca.
Datroway belongs to a class of drugs known as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), often referred to as “guided missiles” because they specifically target cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells—offering a more precise alternative to traditional chemotherapy.
