Why India's generics players are betting on this diabetes drug

A blockbuster diabetes drug will soon be available to Indian patients at a tenth of its original cost, as its patent expires.

- Jessica Jani

A blockbuster diabetes drug will soon be available to Indian patients at a tenth of its original cost, as its patent expires. At least four Indian generics players have launched cheaper variants of the drug, which is used to treat type-2 diabetes as well as heart and kidney ailments.

German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim's diabetes drug empagliflozin went off patent on Tuesday, and India's top generics makers lost no time in introducing ultra-cheap versions of the drug, which also aids in moderate weight loss.

Industry players say the drug holds significant promise for volume growth as it becomes more affordable.

India-focused drug makers like Mankind Pharma, Alkem Laboratories, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, and Corona Remedies rolled out generic versions of empagliflozin on Wednesday, priced 80-90% lower than the original.

"You put all your energy, passion behind a winning horse...with the kind of trials, reports, the kind of literature empagliflozin has created in the last couple of years, we are very, very confident that this will do even better," Rajeev Juneja, managing director of Delhi-based Mankind Pharma, told Mint.

While the innovator drug, under the name Jardiance, was sold at about ₹60 per tablet for the 10 mg dosage, Mankind has launched it at ₹5.49 per tablet for the 10 mg variant and ₹9.90 per tablet for the 25 mg variant. Meanwhile, Glenmark will sell it for ₹11 per tablet for the 10 mg variant. Alkem said its range is priced 80% lower than the innovator drug.