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ICMR Backs Nationwide Clinical Trial to Explore Affordable Treatment Strategy for Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer remains one of the deadliest gynaecological cancers in India, often diagnosed at advanced stages. While PARP inhibitors have shown strong results in prolonging remission and improving survival, their high cost has limited widespread adoption, particularly in public hospitals and smaller treatment centres.
- By Newsdesk
- New Delhi
- Dec 16, 2025
In a significant step towards making advanced cancer therapies more accessible, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has initiated a large, pan-India clinical trial to evaluate whether lower doses of a widely used targeted cancer drug can deliver the same therapeutic benefits at a fraction of the cost.
The study will focus on PARP inhibitors, a class of precision medicines that have transformed the treatment landscape for ovarian cancer but remain financially out of reach for many patients due to their high price. By testing reduced and optimised dosing regimens, researchers aim to determine whether treatment efficacy can be maintained while substantially lowering the financial burden on patients and healthcare systems.
The trial will be conducted across multiple cancer centres nationwide, enrolling ovarian cancer patients who are eligible for PARP inhibitor therapy. Researchers will closely monitor outcomes such as disease progression, survival rates, side-effect profiles, and overall treatment tolerability to assess whether cost-effective dosing strategies can match standard protocols.
Ovarian cancer remains one of the deadliest gynaecological cancers in India, often diagnosed at advanced stages. While PARP inhibitors have shown strong results in prolonging remission and improving survival, their high cost has limited widespread adoption, particularly in public hospitals and smaller treatment centres.
ICMR officials say the study is part of a broader effort to generate India-specific clinical evidence that can guide treatment decisions suited to local patient needs and economic realities. If successful, the findings could pave the way for revised clinical guidelines, enabling oncologists to prescribe more affordable regimens without compromising patient outcomes.
Experts believe the trial could have far-reaching implications beyond ovarian cancer, potentially reshaping how expensive targeted therapies are dosed and delivered in resource-constrained settings. The initiative also reflects a growing emphasis on balancing innovation with affordability in India’s cancer care ecosystem.
Results from the study are expected to inform future policy decisions and may play a crucial role in expanding access to life-saving targeted therapies for thousands of patients across the country.