Chinese box-office hit movie prompts Sino/Indian action on cancer drug availability

As a movie on anti cancer medication smuggled from India rakes in big bucks across China, the two countries have reached an agreement and have initiated specific measures for the import of Indian pharmaceuticals, especially anti-cancer drugs, reports The Pharma Letter’s India correspondent.

The Chinese box office hit 'Dying to Survive' has proved to be a turning point for pharma exports between the two nations. Bringing in huge revenues and rave reviews since it was released on July 5, the movie, at heart, is a real-life story that drives its protagonist to bankruptcy, and focuses on cancer health issues that continue to affect millions of people in China.

The film focuses on a businessman and a leukemia patient, who cannot pay the exorbitant cost of a drug produced by a Swiss pharmaceutical giant. He imports and sells generic pharmaceutical medicines from India, to chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients on the Chinese mainland.