Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, July 8: More affordable versions of the popular medication Januvia (Sitagliptin) went on sale on Wednesday and more are on the way, according to the latest reports.
With the arrival of generic versions of US company Merck’s top-selling diabetic medication Januvia, which would cut the cost of treatment by a third, the expanding anti-diabetes industry, estimated to be worth approximately Rs 17,000 crore, is about to get busy. This comes just after Sitagliptin, an important but relatively recent anti-diabetic medication, lost its patent protection in July.
According to the sources, the drug’s generic versions are anticipated to cost between Rs 8 to Rs 18 per day, which is less than the current Rs 45 per day medication marketed by Merck.
With annual sales of more than $5 billion worldwide, Sitagliptin is regarded as an excellent chemical. This has a market size in India estimated at about Rs 3,600 crore.
The Indian pharmaceutical sector anticipates at least 200 new brands from 50 businesses to hit the market in the next two months as a key anti-diabetic medicine molecule is expected to go off-patent this month. Diabetes patients stand to gain from this as the drug’s costs are anticipated to drop by 50–70% in the near future, according to industry sources.
“Glenmark has just launched Sitagliptin and its combination Sitagliptin-+Metformin under brand names SITAZIT 50mg and SITAZIT 100mg. It is priced at almost one-third compared to its innovator brand (Januvia),” an official said.
A Dr Reddy’s spokesperson said, “Dr Reddy’s Stig will be among the most affordably priced options.”
