ICMR licenses cervical cancer drug SHetA2 to Emcure Pharmaceuticals for development in India

Jul 27, 2026

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has licensed the anti-HPV drug candidate SHetA2 to Emcure Pharmaceuticals for development as a non-surgical treatment for cervical precancer in India. Jointly developed with the University of Oklahoma, the small-molecule therapy targets HPV-affected cells while sparing healthy tissue. Although clinical trials may take up to five years, the oral capsule could offer an affordable alternative to surgery for the 80,000 Indian women diagnosed with cervical cancer annually.

SHetA2 cervical cancer therapy

▪SHetA2 has been evaluated in an oral capsule form, and researchers are exploring localized delivery mechanisms such as a vaginal suppository to maximize drug concentration in the cervix.
▪The Indian Council of Medical Research licensed the anti-HPV drug candidate SHetA2 to Pune-based Emcure Pharmaceuticals for development as a potential non-surgical treatment for cervical precancer.
▪SHetA2 was jointly developed by Dr. Shaukat Hussain of the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research and Dr. Doris M. Benbrook of the Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma.

Cervical cancer burden in India

▪Cervical cancer killed 36,319 women in India in 2024, accounting for just over 10% of all cancers among women in the country.
▪Nearly 80,000 women in India are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually, making it the second most common type of cancer among women in India.

SHetA2 mechanism of action

▪SHetA2 targets three host proteins—mortalin, heat shock cognate (hsc70), and glucose regulated protein 78 (Grp78)—which are essential for the proliferation of the virus' cancer-causing oncoprotein.
▪SHetA2 is designed to selectively target HPV-affected precancerous and cancerous cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
▪SHetA2 breaks the connection between the HPV-E7 protein and a host protein inside human cells, allowing the body's immune defenses to destroy the harmful E7 protein.

Clinical development timeline

▪Emcure Pharmaceuticals is responsible for conducting larger human clinical trials for SHetA2, which may take up to five years to complete.
▪SHetA2 must successfully complete multiple phases of clinical trials to establish safety and effectiveness before receiving regulatory approval for public use.

HPV vaccination recommendations

▪HPV vaccines usually contain four strains most likely to cause cancer and can prevent the human papillomavirus infection that leads to cervical cancer.
▪The Indian government rolled out human papillomavirus vaccination for all 14-year-old girls in 2026.

Cervical cancer screening methods

▪Early detection of cervical lesions is necessary for early initiation of treatment, which can improve patient outcomes.
▪Screening tests such as pap smear, HPV DNA, or visual inspection with acetic acid can detect precancerous or cancerous cervical lesions.