Drugmakers have begun to roll-out their generic versions of diabetes drug Empagliflozin – on day one after the innovative drug from Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) went off patent protection (March 11).
The first half of Wednesday has already seen three domestic drugmakers announce their versions of Empagliflozin – Alkem, Glenmark and Mankind Pharma, and more companies are expected to follow. The three launches have crashed the price by 80-90 per cent.
BI sells the drug under the name Jardiance (empagliflozin) and its journey in India had included taking legal recourse to restrain generics from launching their versions of the product, before their patent had lapsed.
Rajeev Juneja, Mankind Pharma Vice Chairman and Managing Director told select media that that their version of empagliflozin would be priced at 90 per cent less than the innovator price i.e. about ₹5.50 per tablet as compared to ₹59 per tablet. This is possibly one of the largest price drops for a diabetes product, he said, replying to a query.
India has the second largest number of people living with diabetes, about 100 million, after China. The estimated size of the domestic market for empagliflozin is about ₹800 crore, Juneja told businessline. Further, he pointed out, the company was able to keep its price low, as it made the active pharmaceutical ingredients, as well.
In its announcement, Alkem Laboratories said they were launching generic empagliflozin and its combinations in India under the brand name “Empanorm” at prices that are approximately 80 per cent lower than the innovator products.”
The company further said, it’s product would have an anti-counterfeit security band on the pack of Empanorm, besides QR codes “that provide prescribing information and additional patient education information on diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease in 11 languages,”.
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said its version of the SGLT2 inhibitor product was being launched as Glempa, and in multiple strengths – Empagliflozin 10/25 mg, besides fixed-dose combinations (FDCs)—Glempa-L (Empagliflozin 10/25 mg + Linagliptin 5 mg) and Glempa-M (Empagliflozin 12.5 mg + Metformin 500/1000 mg).
These medications are designed to improve glycemic control in adults with Type II diabetes, while reducing cardiovascular outcomes in these patients with a heart-indicated risk, a note from Glenmark said. The company has three treatment options to facilitate treatment flexibility and effectiveness, it added.
