 "A man carrying a gas cylinder walks out of the research and development centre of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries in Mumbai. Photo: Reuters")
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and AstraZeneca India on Wednesday announced a partnership under which the former would promote and distribute the latter's leading anti-diabetic drug, dapagliflozin, under the brand name of 'Oxra'.
Currently, only AstraZeneca India markets dapagliflozin in the country, under the brand name of Forxiga. The two companies would now promote, market and distribute dapagliflozin in India under their respective brand names. AstraZeneca will retain the intellectual property rights to this molecule.
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"Dapagliflozin represents a significant advancement in the treatment of Type-2 diabetes and this agreement supports our strategy of working with a local partner to maximise the value from our innovative medicines in a key emerging market," said Sanjay Murdeshwar, managing director, AstraZeneca India.
Sun also gets the right to promote and distribute the combination of dapagliflozin with metformin under the brand name of Oxramet, following regulatory approval. "AstraZeneca India is currently seeking approval from the Drugs Controller General of India for the combination," said Sun.
Currently, AstraZeneca India has a broad non-insulin portfolio. It offers medicines in all the three (and fast-growing) classes of Type-2 diabetes treatments.
"Sun Pharma enjoys astrong relationship with the physician community. Through this partnership, access to dapagliflozinwill be enhanced for doctors and Type-2 patients," said Abhay Gandhi, chief executive-India at Sun.
Diabetes is estimated to affect 69 million people in India and 415 mn worldwide. By 2040, the latter will, warn estimates, rise to 642 million. The size of the overall Indian anti-diabetes market is at least Rs 8,400 crore (Type 1 & 2), growing at 21 per cent annually.
The market is highly fragmented, with approximately 50 active players. However, the top five (including Sun) cumulatively account for half of this.
"Sun Pharma's current diabetes portfolio comprises over 40 speciality products, with a market share of eight per cent," stated the company.
