US bio-pharma giant Eli Lilly and Company has on Thursday (March 3) launched its latest diabetes drug Trulicity in India. The new addition to Lilly’s broader Indian diabetes portfolio is the country's first once-a-week injectable medication and it is indicated for improving blood sugar control in adults with type-2 diabetes.
India, with the world’s second largest diabetic population, was one of Lilly’s first few targeted markets for this biological drug soon after its launch in the US.
Trulicity, an original molecule (dulaglutide) from Lilly’s bio-pharma research, is patented in India.
The drug, though not an insulin, mimics the effects of a natural hormone that helps keep blood sugar levels normal, by helping the body release its own insulin after food intake and it comes in an easy to use, single-dose pen.
Also, it can be administered at any time of the day independent of meals and it does not require mixing or measuring before use.
"Trulicity is an important addition to our diabetes portfolio in India, where diabetes is a big burden on the healthcare system,” said Lilly India managing director Edgard Olaizola in a phone interview with BW Businessworld.
It is also an important milestone in our journey to help a large number of patients and their caregivers in this country. The product is launched across the country simultaneously and will cover a large number of patients, he added.
The drug will cost little more than Rs 2,000 for a weekly doze for the patient. The company is also offering some discount on the price for patients through distributors.
"This class of drugs (GLP-1 agonist) provides several benefits including a proven efficacy in controlling blood sugar levels with a lower risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). It might even help patients reduce a little weight," says Tarun Puri, Lilly’s medical director in India.
Trulicity, a prescription drug that should be taken only on prescription from a registered medical practitioner (Internal Medicine) and Endocrinologist, was approved in the US in September 2014 and the EU approval came in November 2014. India was part of global clinical trial for the drug prior to these approvals, according to the company officials.
Eli Lilly India currently sells at least a dozen products in its diabetes portfolio including insulins in the country. It also has co-marketing arrangement with local drug maker Lupin for some of its insulin products. The Gurgaon-based India unit of the US drug maker is mainly focused on therapies such as diabetes, lung cancer, osteoporosis and growth-hormone deficiency in the country since its entry in 1993.
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Unnikrishnan is currently Senior Associate Editor with BW Businessworld at its Mumbai Bureau. During his two decades long journalistic career, he has received several media awards and recognitions. His articles on healthcare, life sciences and intellectual property rights (IPR) have been republished by several international blogs and journals.
