BackLupin in pact with Germany’s Boehringer to sell diabetes drugs in India
Lupin will market and sell linagliptin, a blood glucose inhibitor for type II diabetes, under a separate brand name Ondero and Ondero Met
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Mumbai: Mumbai-based drug maker Lupin Ltd on Wednesday said that it has entered one of the high-growth segments of anti-diabetes drug market in India by signing a pact with German-based Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) to sell linagliptin, a blood glucose (Dipeptidylpeptidase-4) inhibitor for type II diabetes.
According to the agreement, Lupin will market and sell the drug under a separate brand name Ondero (monotherapy) and Ondero Met (fixed-dose combination with metformin).
BI, however, will continue to sell its linagliptin under the brand names Trajenta (monotherapy) and TrajentaDuo (fixed-dose combination with metformin) through its existing sales channel.
The Indian diabetes drug market is valued at ₹ 7,655 crore and is growing at 19.57% a year (IMS MAT August 2015). The total DPP-4 Inhibitors market is valued at ₹ 1,499 crore and is growing at 26.55% a year.
Lupin’s anti-diabetic portfolio contributes 15% to Lupin’s India formulations sales. It is the fourth largest company in the anti-diabetes segment and currently has a market share of 6.44% in the overall diabetes drug market, the company said.
“I believe our entry into the high growth DPP-4 inhibitor market with the launch of Ondero and Ondero Met will not only strengthen our diabetes portfolio but also help us consolidate our position as a market leader and the fastest-growing player in the Top 5 in the anti-diabetes segment," said Shakti Chakraborty, group president, India Region Formulations, Lupin.
“We are pleased to partner with Lupin for the sales and promotion of linagliptin as Lupin has a strong play in the anti-diabetes segment with a robust product portfolio. It is an ideal partnership where Boehringer Ingelheim brings the research and scientific excellence for linagliptin, and Lupin their marketing excellence and brand equity among key clinician categories to drive and facilitate product access," said Sharad Tyagi, managing director, BI India.
In 2011, Lupin signed an agreement with US-based Eli Lilly to promote and distribute Eli’s anti-diabetic drugs, including Huminsulin, in India and Nepal.
The company signed a strategic partnership with Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of German pharma-to-speciality chemicals group Merck KgaA last year. Under this partnership, Lupin will support Merck Serono expand its generic drug portfolio in emerging markets by developing and supplying finished products.
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