Medical Oncologist
Treatment cost & funding
Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Price in India: — Innovator Cost, No Biosimilar Yet, and What to Ask
Trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) is one of the most expensive cancer medicines available in India today. A single treatment cycle costs several lakhs of rupees. This page sets out indicative 2025 cost ranges and the practical steps for reducing what you pay out of pocket.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · MD · DM (Adyar, Chennai) · ECMO · MRCP SCE (UK) · Last reviewed August 2026
- No biosimilar exists — Trastuzumab deruxtecan is a complex antibody-drug conjugate. No generic or biosimilar version is approved in India as of September 2025.
- Cost is weight-based — The number of vials you need per cycle depends on your body weight, so the total cost differs between patients.
- Patient assistance is available — The manufacturer runs a patient access programme in India. Your oncologist's team can make the referral.
- Some schemes and insurers cover it — Ask your insurer specifically before your first cycle. Government employees should check CGHS or their state scheme.
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Trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) has no approved biosimilar in India as of September 2025. The innovator brand is the only available option. Per-cycle costs are in the range of several lakhs of rupees, depending on body weight. Financial support is available through the manufacturer's patient access programme, some insurance policies, and government health schemes.
What does trastuzumab deruxtecan cost in India?
| Cost item | Indicative — September 2025 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vials per cycle — 60 kg patient, standard breast cancer dose | Typically 3–4 vials of 100 mg | Your oncologist calculates the exact amount. Heavier patients need more. |
| Per-cycle drug cost | Several lakhs of rupees | Varies with body weight, dose level, and your pharmacy's current list price. Confirm with your supplier directly. |
| Annual drug cost (approximately 17 cycles) | Tens of lakhs of rupees | Treatment duration is set by your oncologist based on response and tolerability. |
| Day-care administration fee | Charged separately per cycle | Confirm the current rate with your treating centre before your first infusion. |
| Approved biosimilar or generic in India | None available | No alternative version has received CDSCO approval as of September 2025. |
Why does this cost so much more than plain trastuzumab?
Trastuzumab deruxtecan is an antibody-drug conjugate — a trastuzumab antibody with a chemotherapy payload chemically attached to each molecule. Manufacturing this combination at consistent quality is substantially more complex than producing a standard antibody or a small-molecule drug.
Do not confuse it with plain trastuzumab (Herceptin and its biosimilars). Those are a different and older medicine. Biosimilars of plain trastuzumab are available in India at lower cost, but they cannot be substituted for trastuzumab deruxtecan — they are not equivalent treatments.
No biosimilar of trastuzumab deruxtecan has been approved in India as of September 2025. If that changes, your oncology team will know before you do.
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Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
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Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
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MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
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Know the cost before you commit
An itemised estimate, plus a check of which schemes you may qualify for.
How do I find out what I will actually pay?
Confirm your exact dose with your oncologist
The number of vials you need is calculated from your body weight and the dose prescribed for your specific indication. Get this number before you price anything at a pharmacy.
Ask about the manufacturer's patient access programme
The maker of Enhertu operates a patient access programme in India. Ask your oncologist's team to refer you or to provide the contact details. Eligibility criteria apply and the programme terms can change, so ask for current information rather than relying on what someone else was offered.
Check your health insurance policy wording
Ask your insurer specifically whether trastuzumab deruxtecan is covered and ask for the answer in writing before your first dose. Name the drug clearly. Some corporate group health policies include high-cost oncology biologics; many individual retail policies do not.
Ask about CGHS or your state government scheme
If you or a family member is a central government employee or pensioner, CGHS may cover this drug under specific oncology approvals. State government employees should check their respective schemes. A hospital medical social worker can help with the application paperwork.
Get a price quote from a named pharmacy
Prices vary between suppliers. Ask a large oncology pharmacy or your hospital's in-house pharmacy for the current rate, and compare at least two before committing to a supplier.
Ask your oncologist whether any open clinical trials apply to you
If you are eligible for a trial studying this drug, the study medication may be provided at no cost. Your oncologist can tell you whether any relevant trials are currently open and enrolling.
What should I have ready before approaching insurers or assistance programmes?
- Your oncologist's prescription stating the drug name, dose in mg/kg, and treatment frequency
- Your current health insurance policy document and the insurer's claims helpline number
- A recent body weight measurement — dose and therefore cost is calculated from it
- Proof of government employment or pensioner status if claiming CGHS or a state scheme
- Income or means-test documents if applying for a manufacturer assistance programme
- Contact details for your hospital's medical social worker or patient navigation team
Did you know?
Manufacturer-run patient assistance programmes for high-cost oncology medicines in India have provided treatment at significantly reduced or no cost to many patients who met eligibility criteria.
These programmes are not widely advertised. Asking your oncology team directly is the most reliable way to find out whether you qualify.
Source: ASCO 2024 report on global access to oncology medicines
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Drug Deep Dive: Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (Enhertu)
- Diet and Nutrition While on Trastuzumab Deruxtecan
- Drug, Food and Supplement Interactions With Trastuzumab Deruxtecan
- Enhertu Myths: 'It's Just Stronger Herceptin' and Cost Misconceptions
- Enhertu in Breast, Gastric and Lung Cancer: One Drug, Three Diseases
- Fertility, Pregnancy and Contraception on Trastuzumab Deruxtecan
- HER2-Low Breast Cancer: How Enhertu Created an Entirely New Patient Group
- How Does Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Work? The HER2-Directed Antibody-Drug Conjugate Explained
- How Long Does Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Take to Work?
- How Long Will You Stay on Trastuzumab Deruxtecan?
- Interstitial Lung Disease on Enhertu: The Side Effect That Needs Immediate Action
- Low Blood Counts, Hair Loss and Heart Monitoring on Enhertu
- Nausea and Vomiting on Trastuzumab Deruxtecan: Managing a High-Risk ADC
- Tests and Monitoring While You Are on Trastuzumab Deruxtecan
- Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (Enhertu): The Complete Patient Guide
- Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Infusion Day: Premedication, Duration and What to Expect
- Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Price in India: Innovator, Biosimilar and Cost Per Cycle
- Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Side Effects: The Complete List and Timeline
- Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Success Rate and Survival: An Honest Look at the Numbers
- Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Elderly Patients and Those With Other Illnesses
- Trastuzumab Deruxtecan vs T-DM1 and Trastuzumab: How ADCs Differ
- When Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Stops Working: Resistance and What Comes Next
- Where Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Fits Alongside Chemotherapy and Hormone Therapy
- Who Is Eligible for Trastuzumab Deruxtecan? HER2-Positive and HER2-Low Breast, Gastric and Lung Cancer
- Will Insurance or a Government Scheme Pay for Trastuzumab Deruxtecan?
- Work, Travel and Daily Life on Trastuzumab Deruxtecan
Drug Deep Dive: Palbociclib (Ibrance)
- Diet and Nutrition While on Palbociclib
- Drug, Food and Supplement Interactions With Palbociclib
- Fatigue on Palbociclib: Why It Happens and What Genuinely Helps
- Fertility, Pregnancy and Contraception on Palbociclib
- How Does Palbociclib Work? The CDK4/6 Inhibitor Explained
- How Long Does Palbociclib Take to Work?
- How Long Will You Stay on Palbociclib?
- Low White Cell Count on Palbociclib: Expected, and Rarely Dangerous
- Mouth Sores and Infection Risk on Palbociclib
- Palbociclib (Ibrance, Palbace): The Complete Patient Guide
- Palbociclib Myths: Low Counts, Hair Loss and Stopping Early
- Palbociclib Price in India: Brand, Generic and Monthly Cost
- Palbociclib Side Effects: The Complete List and Timeline
- Palbociclib Success Rate and Survival: An Honest Look at the Numbers
- Palbociclib With Letrozole or Fulvestrant: Understanding Your Combination
- Palbociclib in Early Breast Cancer: Why It Is Not Given After Surgery
- Palbociclib in Elderly Patients and Those With Other Illnesses
- Palbociclib vs Ribociclib vs Abemaciclib: Which CDK4/6 Inhibitor?
- Taking Palbociclib: Food, Timing and What to Do If You Miss a Dose
- Tests and Monitoring While You Are on Palbociclib
- The 21-Days-On, 7-Days-Off Palbociclib Cycle Explained
- When Palbociclib Stops Working: Resistance and What Comes Next
- Who Is Eligible for Palbociclib? Hormone-Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer
- Will Insurance or a Government Scheme Pay for Palbociclib?
- Work, Travel and Daily Life on Palbociclib
Drug Deep Dive: Trastuzumab (Herceptin)
- Adjuvant Trastuzumab: Why Exactly 12 Months After Surgery?
- Diet and Nutrition While on Trastuzumab
- Drug, Food and Supplement Interactions With Trastuzumab
- Fatigue, Chills and Flu-Like Symptoms After a Trastuzumab Infusion
- Fertility, Pregnancy and Contraception on Trastuzumab
- Heart Function and Trastuzumab: Understanding Your ECHO Reports
- Herceptin vs Biosimilar Trastuzumab: Are They Really the Same?
- How Does Trastuzumab Work? The Anti-HER2 Monoclonal Antibody Explained
- How Long Does Trastuzumab Take to Work?
- How Long Will You Stay on Trastuzumab?
- Subcutaneous Trastuzumab vs IV Infusion: Which Suits You Better?
- Tests and Monitoring While You Are on Trastuzumab
- Trastuzumab (Herceptin and biosimilars): The Complete Patient Guide
- Trastuzumab Infusion Day: Premedication, Duration and What to Expect
- Trastuzumab Infusion Reactions: What Happens and How They're Managed
- Trastuzumab Myths: 'It's Chemotherapy' and Other Misunderstandings
- Trastuzumab Price in India: Innovator, Biosimilar and Cost Per Cycle
- Trastuzumab Side Effects: The Complete List and Timeline
- Trastuzumab Success Rate and Survival: An Honest Look at the Numbers
- Trastuzumab With Pertuzumab, Chemotherapy and Hormone Therapy
- Trastuzumab in Elderly Patients and Those With Other Illnesses
- When Trastuzumab Stops Working: Resistance and What Comes Next
- Who Is Eligible for Trastuzumab? HER2-Positive Breast and Gastric Cancer
- Will Insurance or a Government Scheme Pay for Trastuzumab?
- Work, Travel and Daily Life on Trastuzumab
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is there a cheaper generic or biosimilar version of trastuzumab deruxtecan in India?
No. As of September 2025, no generic or biosimilar version of trastuzumab deruxtecan has received approval from CDSCO in India. The innovator brand is the only available option. Biosimilars of plain trastuzumab exist and cost considerably less, but they are a different medicine entirely and cannot be substituted for trastuzumab deruxtecan. If an approved alternative becomes available, your oncology team will be aware of it before you are.
Will my health insurance cover trastuzumab deruxtecan?
It depends on your specific policy. Some corporate group health policies include high-cost oncology biologics; most individual retail policies issued before 2022 do not, though some newer policies do. Ask your insurer to confirm in writing — name the drug specifically, not just 'chemotherapy' or 'targeted therapy'. Get the answer before your first dose to avoid a claim dispute later. Your hospital's billing team may already know how your insurer handles this class of drug and can advise on the documentation needed.
Does Ayushman Bharat PMJAY cover this treatment?
PMJAY covers a defined package list that is updated periodically. High-cost novel antibody-drug conjugates are generally not included in standard package rates. Your hospital's empanelled PMJAY coordinator is the correct person to check the current list. If your state runs a supplementary scheme — which several Telangana and Andhra Pradesh programmes do — ask specifically whether that scheme has a separate provision for high-cost oncology biologics, as some do.
How does the manufacturer's patient access programme work?
The manufacturer runs a named patient access programme for qualifying patients in India. The exact structure — whether it is a free starter supply, co-pay assistance, or a capped annual cost — can change, so the best source of current information is your treating oncologist's team, who can make the referral. You will typically need your oncologist's prescription, confirmation of your diagnosis and treatment plan, and an income or means-test document to apply.
The costs on this page are ranges — how do I get my exact cost per cycle?
Your exact cost depends on your body weight, the dose your oncologist has prescribed (which can differ between indications and between lines of treatment), and the current price at your dispensing pharmacy. Ask your oncologist's team to calculate the number of vials for your specific dose, then get a current quote from your pharmacy. The figures on this page are indicative ranges for early financial planning, not a price guarantee. Prices can change between cycles, so confirm with your supplier before each one.
Is this drug administered at CION and what does administration cost?
Trastuzumab deruxtecan is given as a day-care infusion at CION centres. CION administers the treatment but does not supply or stock the drug — you collect the medicine from a licensed oncology pharmacy and bring it in for infusion, which is the standard model for high-cost biologics in India. The day-care administration fee is separate from the drug cost. The team at your CION centre can confirm the current rate.