Lupin partners Eli Lilly to market diabetes drug Eglucent

New Delhi : Pharma major Lupin announced a new partnership with Eli Lilly India to market and sell the latter's diabetes treatment drug 'Eglucent' in the country.

"According to the agreement, Lupin will market and sell Eglucent through its own specialty field force while Lilly will be responsible for manufacturing and import," Lupin said in a BSE filing.

It further said: "Eli Lilly and Company (India) Pvt Ltd (Lilly) will continue to sell Lispro under the brand name Humalog through its existing channels".

Lupin had earlier collaborated with Lilly in July, 2011 to promote and distribute Lilly's Huminsulin range of products in India and Nepal.

Eli Lilly and Company (India) Pvt Ltd is a subsidiary of the US pharmaceutical major Eli Lilly and Company.

Eglucent, a new brand of Lilly's rapid-acting insulin analog Lispro, is indicated for the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus. It is an injectable medication designed to improve blood sugar control in patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes.

"The intent of this launch, which is the first for Lilly in the entire Emerging Markets region, is to increase the reach of analog insulin Lispro to more patients and healthcare professionals. We believe this is a big step in our journey to help fight the rising disease burden in India," Lilly India Managing Director Edgard Olaizola said.

Lupin Group President, India Region Formulations Shakti Chakraborty said "our entry into the rapid-acting Insulin analog segment will not only bolster our existing Diabetes portfolio but will also go a long way in strengthening our position in the Indian Pharmaceutical market."

Eglucent will be available in the Indian market in both, the cartridge and disposable pen form.

Lupin said it is the fifth largest company in the "anti-Diabetes segment with a market share of 6.34 per cent growing at 18 per cent (IMS MAT September 2016)" and its anti-diabetic portfolio contributes 16 per cent to its India formulations sales.