While awareness campaigns have helped millions recognise the warning signs of breast, prostate and lung cancer, hundreds of rare cancers continue to go largely unnoticed
HyderabadDr Reddy’s Laboratories has registered an innovative immunotherapy in South Africa for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (RM-NPC), a rare and aggressive form of head and neck cancer in South Africa. “The registration of the immunotherapy represents an important step forward for patients living with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma and reflects our commitment to expanding access to advanced oncology treatments in South Africa,’’ Rashem Mothilal, General Manager, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories South Africa said in a release on Monday. According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), one in four South Africans will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. While awareness campaigns have helped millions recognise the warning signs of breast, prostate and lung cancer, hundreds of rare cancers continue to go largely unnoticed, often because their symptoms resemble everyday illnesses that people experience without a second thought.Biological therapyUnlike traditional chemotherapy, which works by killing rapidly dividing cancer cells but can also affect healthy fast-growing cells such as those in the bone marrow, digestive tract and hair follicles, immunotherapy takes a different approach. It is a form of biological therapy that helps the body’s own immune system recognise and fight cancer more effectively. The World Health Organization estimates that there are more than 500 rare cancers, many of which receive little public attention despite the devastating impact they have on patients and their families. Among them is nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), one of the rarest forms of head and neck cancer in South Africa, the release said.Published on August 3, 2026
