Prices of diabetes drug empagliflozin falls by 80-90% as generics enter market

The launches follows patent expiration of empagliflozin sold by German drugmaker Boehringer Ingelheim under brand name Jardiance.

The price of blockbuster diabetes drug empagliflozin has crashed as much as 90%, as several domestic drugmakers have announced the launch generic versions on Wednesday. Mankind Pharma, Alkem Laboratories, Glenmark, CORONA Remedies are some of the companies to have launched, making the drug affordable to most Indian patients. Torrent, and Lupin are also launching generic versions.

The launches follows patent expiration of empagliflozin sold by German drugmaker Boehringer Ingelheim under brand name Jardiance.

Mankind Pharma, India's fourth-largest firm by market share, said it will be selling a generic version of the drug Rs 5.49 per tablet for the 10 mg variant and Rs 9.9 per tablet for the 25 mg variant, making cheaper by more than 90%.

The cost of empagliflozin, which was earlier priced at Rs 58.7 per tablet for the 10 mg dosage form and Rs 71.1 for 25 mg.

“With this launch, Mankind Pharma has once again broken cost barriers by offering a product that combines international quality with affordability," said Rajeev Juneja, vice chairman and managing director, Mankind Pharma.

Juneja said the Mankind's empagliflozin will be marketed through its an wide network of 1,500 sales reps across India, targeting specialists to general physician.

"Our coverage (marketing) will be 5-6 times more than the innovator product," Juneja said.

Empagliflozin is an SGLT-2 (Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2) inhibitor indicted for use in the treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and chronic heart failure (HF). The empagliflozin market, including its combination therapies, is valued at Rs 640 crore.

Juneja added that while the volumes will go up at least by 50% in the first year, but there will be erosion of the total market size of the drug as prices come down, but thereafter market size will recover and will start growing.

Glenmark launched empagliflozin under the brand name Glempa, along with fixed-dose combinations. The company price 10mg dosage at Rs 11 per tablet and 25 mg at 14 per tablet.

"The launch of Glempa range reinforces this commitment by providing a comprehensive and affordable solution that empowers healthcare professionals and patients to manage T2DM with established CVD more effectively,” said Alok Malik, President and Head of India Formulations Business, Glenmark.

Alkem Laboratories said it has launched generic empagliflozin and its combinations in India under the brand name Empanorm at prices 80% lower than the innovator products.

The company said it is introducing anti-counterfeit band and important patient education information on empagliflozin packs, and will also be offering empagliflozin in a smaller tablet size, making it convenient for patients.