Sanofi India denies reports of Lantus sale, calls media reports ‘unfounded’

If the deal materialises, it could position Lantus as one of India’s most valuable pharma brands.

Sanofi India has strongly refuted a recent report claiming the company has initiated the sale or licensing of its flagship insulin brand, Lantus. In a stock exchange filing, Sanofi India said, “The information presented in the article is completely unfounded and incorrect. The Company has no plans to divest, sell or license its brand Lantus.”

The clarification comes in response to an ET report published April 15, which stated that Sanofi India had begun exploring a sale, with leading Indian pharmaceutical players, including Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Glenmark, and Emcure Pharma, in early-stage discussions to acquire the asset.

According to the report, Sanofi had slashed its asking price for Lantus from Rs 3,000 crore to around Rs 2,000 crore in a bid to attract more interest. While Sanofi declined to comment to ET at the time, the publication cited sources saying a licensing deal could also be on the table if outright sale negotiations didn’t materialise. Moneycontrol could not independently verify these claims.

Lantus — an insulin glargine formulation, has been a market leader in diabetes treatment in India for nearly two decades. However, sales have been on a decline. As per ET, citing PharmaTrac data, Lantus clocked Rs 426 crore in moving annual turnover (MAT) sales for the 12 months ending February 2025, down from Rs 588 crore in 2022. The actual sales may be higher if institutional and government purchases are factored in.

The dip in revenue has been attributed to a 21% government-mandated price cut in 2023, which impacted margins, and rising competition from newer insulin therapies, including once-a-week options.

Despite these pressures, Lantus continues to outperform several rival brands, underlining its enduring relevance in India’s diabetes care market.