Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has launched the first biosimilar of the popular anti-diabetic drug, Liraglutide in India, which will lower the therapy cost by approximately 70%. The drug is being marketed under the brand Lirafit, following an approval from the Drug Controller General of India. It is priced around Rs 100 for a standard dose of 1.2 mg (per day) and will be available only under prescription, says a company statement.
Liraglutide belongs to the class of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) drugs, which increase glucose-dependent insulin secretion and decrease in appropriate glucagon secretion. It has been approved globally for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adult patients in the United States and European Union.
“With this launch, we have now ventured into the injectable anti-diabetic market, taking another significant stride in the diabetes therapy space,” Alok Malik, president and business head ‐ India Formulations, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, said.
Clinical trials on Liraglutide have demonstrated several benefits, including effectively lowering glycemic parameters, weight reduction, and cardiovascular safety in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, it adds.
As per the ICMR-INDIAB study conducted between October 2008 and December 2020, the overall weighted prevalence of diabetes was 11.4%.
According to IQVIA sales data for the 12‐month period ending August 2023 (MAT August 2023), the market for GLP-1 RA in India is estimated to be Rs 259 crore, with an annual growth of 108% against the corresponding period last year (MAT August 2022).
Liraglutide belongs to the class of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) drugs, which increase glucose-dependent insulin secretion and decrease in appropriate glucagon secretion. It has been approved globally for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adult patients in the United States and European Union.
“With this launch, we have now ventured into the injectable anti-diabetic market, taking another significant stride in the diabetes therapy space,” Alok Malik, president and business head ‐ India Formulations, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, said.
Clinical trials on Liraglutide have demonstrated several benefits, including effectively lowering glycemic parameters, weight reduction, and cardiovascular safety in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, it adds.
As per the ICMR-INDIAB study conducted between October 2008 and December 2020, the overall weighted prevalence of diabetes was 11.4%.
According to IQVIA sales data for the 12‐month period ending August 2023 (MAT August 2023), the market for GLP-1 RA in India is estimated to be Rs 259 crore, with an annual growth of 108% against the corresponding period last year (MAT August 2022).