Pharma giants ready to harness diabetes marketIndia has a population of nearly 65 million diabetics and 77 million pre-diabetics
India has seen the entry of more drugs to tap the fast growing market for diabetes. Global major – Novo Nordisk and domestic leaders – Zydus Cadila, Piramal Enterprises, Emcure Pharma are gearing up with new products, as well as division launches, to grab a bigger pie.
The country, which has about 65 million diabetics, will see the number grow to 100 million by 2030. Hence, the market is expected to reach Rs 6,500 crore by 2015 from the current size Rs 4,500 crore, a growth of 45 per cent.
On September 2, Novo Nordisk launched Tresiba, a new basal insulin for patients with type-I and type-II diabetes. The company claimed this would offer flexibility in the timing of insulin administration.
Apart from nearly 65 million diabetics, India has 77 million pre-diabetics. About 85-90 per cent of the patients suffer from dyslipidemia or lipid abnormalities, causing cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
In India, one of every five persons is at serious risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
It is second to China in number of diabetics across the globe. Sujay Shetty, leader- Pharmaceuticals and, PricewaterhouseCoopers India, said, “Genetically, Indians become diabetic much earlier than their western counterparts.
Nowadays, even children at age of 13-14 are diabetics due to the change in lifestyles – consumption of junk food, fast food and growing obesity.”
Though the market is crowded with drugs for diabetics, drugs with novel technologies are hitting the market nowadays. Swati Piramal, Vice Chairperson, Piramal Enterprises Limited said, “Molecules for diabetes act on different pathways where drug metabolism is changed. One molecule which acts on one may not work on another patient. This creates enough room for each new drug in India.” The Ajay Piramal-owned Piramal Enterprises is also developing a new molecule for diabetes and the phase-I trials are over in India. Piramal’s molecule- P7435 has been developed by the NCE Research Division of PEL for the management of metabolic disorders such as lipid abnormalities and diabetes.
According to Piramal, the lifestyle of Indians with higher consumption of food containing carbohydrates is one among the major reasons for diabetes.
Zydus Cadila has developed a new class of diabetic drug Saroglitazar, branded as Lipaglyn and received marketing approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) in June.
According to Cadila claims, Lipaglyn is the world’s first drug for treating diabetic dyslipidemia combining lipid and glucose lowering effects in one single molecule. Diabetic Dyslipidemia is a condition where a person is diabetic and has elevated levels of the total cholesterol. Recently, Pune-based Emcure has ventured into diabetic segment by launching Criante, a new diabetic care division.
