Eli Lilly to widen its drug portfolio

Chennai : Global pharma major Eli Lilly will widen its therapeutic drug portfolio to include pain management and others while it would launch one diabetic and cancer drug in India, said a top official in the Indian subsidiary.

"We will launch one diabetic and oncology drug soon. Out of around 50 products under various stages of trials, seven are undergoing phase 3 trials," Edgard Olaizola Story, managing director India, Eli Lilly and Company (India) Pvt. Ltd., told reporters here on Tuesday.

He was here to launch Eli Lilly new once-a-week single dose diabetic injectible drug Trulicity.

According to him, a major portion of the company's revenue is from diabetic drug sales and the balance is from sales of drugs for cancer, growth hormones, osteoporosis and others.

Story said in two-three years few more cancer drugs will be launched and the company will also get into pain management and other segments.

"One of our cancer drugs is under regulatory approval. We may get into stomach cancer segment. Currently, we are into lung cancer segment," said Tarun Puri, medical director.

Speaking about the company's new once-a-week single dose diabetic injection Trulicity, Story said the drug is imported from the US and is priced Rs.2,499 per injection.

He said India is one of the largest market for diabetes drugs and the company's new drug is convenient for Type 2 diabetic patients.

Story said the India diabetic drug market is estimated at around $1 billion and the share of injectable is around $200-250 million with balance commanded by oral drugs.

He said India is amongst the first few countries in the world and third in Asia where Trulicity a prescription drug has been launched.

It should be used as an adjunct to diet and exercise, Story added.