Synopsis
The price of the diabetes medication empagliflozin has been reduced by nearly 90% following the introduction of generic brands in India, enhancing accessibility for type 2 diabetes patients.Key Takeaways
- Empagliflozin price reduced to Rs 5.5 per tablet.
- Generic versions launched by Mankind, Alkem, and Glenmark.
- Mankind Pharma offers 10 mg and 25 mg variants.
- Alkem's Empanorm priced 80 percent lower than original.
- Glenmark provides Glempa with fixed-dose combinations.
New Delhi, March 13 (NationPress) The cost of a widely-used diabetes medication, empagliflozin, has been reduced by nearly one-tenth following the introduction of its generic versions into the market.
Created by the German pharmaceutical company, Boehringer Ingelheim (BI), empagliflozin is marketed under the name Jardiance. This oral treatment aids in regulating blood sugar levels for individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
The price of the drug, previously around Rs 60 per tablet, is now set to Rs 5.5 per tablet, thanks to the launch of generic options by manufacturers such as Mankind, Alkem, and Glenmark.
According to a statement from Mankind Pharma, their version of empagliflozin will be priced at Rs 5.49 per tablet for the 10 mg variant and Rs 9.90 per tablet for the 25 mg variant.
"Our goal is to ensure that cost is no longer an obstacle to accessibility," stated Rajeev Juneja, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Mankind Pharma.
Alkem has introduced the drug under the brand name Empanorm, priced at nearly 80 percent lower than the cost of the original products.
"With a focus on patients, Alkem has implemented an anti-counterfeit security band on the packaging of Empanorm, along with extensive educational content on diabetes management available in Hindi and English, featuring infographics and QR codes that direct users to prescribing information and additional educational resources on diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease in 11 languages," Alkem stated.
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, based in Mumbai, has also launched a generic version of empagliflozin under the name Glempa (Empagliflozin 10/25 mg), along with fixed-dose combinations Glempa-L (Empagliflozin 10/25 mg + Linagliptin 5 mg) and Glempa-M (Empagliflozin 12.5 mg + Metformin 500/1000 mg).
"The introduction of the Glempa line underscores our commitment to delivering a comprehensive and cost-effective solution that enables healthcare professionals and patients to manage type 2 diabetes alongside established cardiovascular disease more efficiently," remarked Alok Malik, President and Head of India Formulations Business at Glenmark Pharmaceuticals.
India has been recognized as the diabetes capital of the world, with over 10 crore individuals diagnosed with this lifestyle disease, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research–India Diabetes (ICMR INDIAB) study conducted in 2023.
Reducing the cost of diabetes medications might be a crucial step in addressing the disease burden.
