With Vildagliptin off-patent from today, new doors open for pharma players

New Delhi: The expiry of Swiss-drugmaker Novartis's blockbuster anti-diabetic drug Vildagliptin is being a bringer of glad tidings for Indian Pharma as pharmaceutical companies are rushing in to cash on Rs 14,000-crore diabetes therapy market and launch a cheaper generic version of the drug with much-reduced prices

With the much-awaited patent expiry of Vildagliptin on December 9 2019, the market has already started hopping up from today. Medical Dialogues had recently reported that Eris Life Sciences acquired the trademark Zomelis and its associated trademarks from Novartis for the Indian market for USD 13 million (over Rs 93 crore). It is expected to start selling the drug for type-2 diabetes in the Indian market from today

Also Read: Eris Lifesciences acquires diabetes drug trademark Zomelis from Novartis AG for India for Rs 93 crore

Pharmaceutical competitors have already initiated to rush in as Mumbai-based drugmaker USV Pvt Ltd is in advanced discussions to acquire the trademark for antidiabetes drug Jalra from for a deal valued at more than Rs. 200 crore, suggests as recent media report in ET.

It is anticipated that around 15-20 players will foray into the market with a strategic plan to grab a slice of the growth resulting in much more affordable diabetes care for more than 72 million diabetics in India.

Prior to the copyright expiry, Novartis had faced a number of legal battles to maintain its monopoly of Vildagliptin under its own brand name called Galvus. However, the patent expiry is likely to result in some 50 companies selling the drug. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that 18 pharma firms alone in the state of Gujarat were halted in 2018 from launching the drug, Vildagliptin.

Also Read: Novartis Expiry of Patent for Blockbuster Vildagliptin to Clear Way for Competitors

Vildagliptin is the first (diabetes) medicine whose end-of-patent life is witnessed by an industry. The formulation considered effective in controlling blood glucose levels. It has about 25% share of the gliptins market of Rs 3500 crore. At present, the three gliptins in the market — sitagliptin, vildagliptin and saxagliptin — are priced at around Rs. 45 for a day's therapy, taking the annual cost of treatment to Rs 16,500.

The price of each tablet of Vildagliptin ranges between Rs 20 to Rs 28, which is expected to fall to Rs 8 to Rs 14 per tablet, thereby, substantially cutting the cost of the therapy.

Presently, Novartis has licensed the drug to companies such as Abbott, USV and Cipla. Abbott sells the drug under the brand name Zomelis, USV under Jalra and Cipla under the name Vysov.