Global pharmaceutical giant Lupin Limited said Friday that it has strengthened its diabetes portfolio in India by acquiring the anti-diabetic trademarks GIBTULIO, GIBTULIO MET, and AJADUO from Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (Boehringer Ingelheim).
According to the agreement, Lupin will receive the trademark rights for these brands by March of the following year. In the Indian market, Lupin has been selling GIBTULIO and GIBTULIO MET since 2016 and AJADUO since 2018 thanks to co-marketing agreements with Boehringer Ingelheim India.
“GIBTULIO (empagliflozin), GIBTULIO MET (empagliflozin + metformin) and AJADUO (empagliflozin + linagliptin) belong to a novel class of oral anti-diabetic drug, sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor (and combinations). These are indicated to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise,” the company said in a statement.
According to the statement, empagliflozin is also recommended to lower the risk of cardiovascular death in individuals with type 2 diabetes and the risk of heart failure hospitalization and cardiovascular death in adults with chronic renal disease.
“Lupin has always been at the forefront of providing best-in-class quality healthcare solutions to patients. This acquisition is a key step in strengthening our diabetes portfolio and reaffirms our commitment to delivering innovative and cost-effective medications for patients across India,” said Nilesh Gupta, Managing Director, Lupin.
In India, an estimated 80 million adults over the age of 18 have diabetes, and another 25 million are pre-diabetic. Diabetes is not well known; over 50% of individuals do not know they have the disease, which can cause several health issues if it is not identified and treated promptly. Heart attacks and strokes are more likely to occur in adults with diabetes.
Commenting on the acquisition, Rajeev Sibal, President – of India Region Formulations, Lupin said, “The increasing prevalence of diabetes and related lifestyle diseases calls for greater thrust on diabetes treatment and management, as well as the accessibility of medicines for patients. This acquisition enables us to deliver effective and affordable treatment options to millions across India.”
