“Our allergic rhinitis drug is technologically superior, masks bitterness and 52% cheaper”

Alok Malik, Group Vice President & Head, India Formulations, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Mumbai

- Sanjiv Das

Mumbai-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals is the first company in the world to launch Ryaltris-AZ as a novel fixed-dose combination of Mometasone furoate 50 mcg + Azelastine 140 mcg, for the treatment of moderate to severe allergic rhinitis. Recently, it has become the first company to launch the branded generic version, in the form of RyaltrisAZ Nasal Spray, at an affordable cost for the treatment of allergic rhinitis in India. Aiming to provide patients a far more convenient, and cost-effective treatment option in the country, Glenmark is currently working on strengthening its respiratory segment, which is the need of the hour. Alok Malik, Group Vice President & Head, India Formulations, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Mumbai spoke to BioSpectrum in detail about the growth plans of the company in the allergic rhinitis space. Edited excerpts;

How big is the allergic rhinitis market in India? Who are the key players?

Around 600 million people in the world are suffering from allergic rhinitis (AR). Of this, the incidence of AR in India is around 20 to 30 per cent. The majority of the patients in India suffer from nasal obstruction as a major symptom of AR. The overall AR market in India is divided into two parts: Oral Antihistamines (OAH) valued at Rs 1599 crore and Intranasal Corticosteroids & Comb (Nasal Spray) valued at Rs 280 crore. The total market accounts for around Rs 1879 crore in India. The key players of the nasal spray market include Cipla, Lupin and Zydus.

What are the current challenges facing this market?