Diabetes drug gets affordable as cheaper versions hit the market | India News

Generic versions of the diabetes drug from some major companies including Dr Reddy’s, Glenmark, Sun Pharma and JB Chemicals’ will hit the market this week

MUMBAI: In good news for diabetics, cheaper versions of a blockbuster drug, Januvia (Sitagliptin) have hit the market.
The growing anti-diabetes market valued around Rs 17,000 crore is set to witness action with generic versions of US firm Merck‘s blockbuster, Januvia being launched over the next few months, reducing the therapy cost by one-third for patients.
Sitagliptin generic versions are expected to be priced in the range of Rs 8 to Rs 18, down from the existing Rs 45 per day therapy by Merck, industry experts told TOI.
Diabetes is fast gaining the status of a potential epidemic in India with over 74 million cases, and a huge undiagnosed diabetes population.
Sitagliptin is perceived to be a `superior’ molecule with global sales of over $5 bn, and the largest selling among the gliptins, a relatively new class of oral diabetes drugs. The market size for this segment (also called DPP4 inhibitors) and its combinations in India is fast growing and around Rs 3600 crore.
Generic versions from some major companies including Dr Reddy’s, Glenmark, Sun Pharma and JB Chemicals’ will hit the market this week. Further, over 50-100 firms including Cipla, Torrent, Zydus Cadila, Lupin, and Alkem are readying plans to get a slice of the action, industry experts told TOI. This is on the heels of Sitagliptin, a relatively newer but important anti-diabetic drug, losing patent protection in July.
Several companies said they were launching the drug. “Glenmark has just launched Sitagliptin and its combination Sitagliptin + Metformin under the brand names SITAZIT 50 (50 mg) and SITAZIT 100 (100 mg). It is priced at almost one-third compared to its innovator brand (Januvia)”, a company official stated.
Till now, prescriptions are dominated by low-priced teneligliptin, a third-generation anti-diabetes drug, which disrupted the market with its affordability a few years back. Now, with the availability of affordable Sitagliptin, a majority of patients are expected to shift to it.
When contacted, a Dr Reddy’s spokesperson said: “We are launching sitagliptin under the brand name Stig. In keeping with our purpose of Good Health Can’t Wait, Dr Reddy’s Stig will be among the most affordably-priced options available to patients living with diabetes’’.
Kirti Ganorkar, CEO India Business, Sun Pharma said the company “has been at the forefront in providing access to innovative medicines to doctors and patients. In line with that philosophy, we introduced this patented drug in India under an exclusive licensing agreement, a decade back. To further improve patient access, we are now making it available at a more affordable price’’.
It may be pointed out that Sun Pharma was marketing Merck’s drug Januvia till now.
The patented drug has been available in the domestic market for several years, with the innovator firm battling domestic companies to prevent the entry of copycat versions. Though this class is emerging as a highly popular anti-diabetes therapy, experts say, their prices, particularly for the economically constrained patients, had always been a significant area of concern. This should get rectified now with entry of cheaper versions.