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Glenmark launches biosimilar of anti-diabetic drug Liraglutide in India

Marketed under the brand name Lirafit, the drug has been approved by DCGI, and is priced at approximately ?100 for a standard daily dose of 1.2 mg.

• By Pooja Chaturvedi Sah
• New Delhi
• Jan 03, 2024

News

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals on Wednesday launched Lirafit, the first biosimilar of popular anti-diabetic drug Liraglutide in India. 

Marketed under the brand name Lirafit, the drug has been approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). It is priced at approximately ₹100 for a standard daily dose of 1.2 mg, and will available only under prescription.

According to Glenmark, the pricing will make the drug accessible to patients with type 2 diabetes in the country, and reduce the cost of therapy by around 70 per cent. 

Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), is effective in increasing glucose-dependent insulin secretion and decrease in appropriate glucagon secretion. It has been recognized globally to manage type 2 diabetes mellitus in adult patients in the United States and the European Union.

Clinical trials conducted on Indian adult patients over a 24-week period demonstrated that Lirafit is effective, safe, and well-tolerated, the Company stated. The trials also established that lirafit is capable of reducing glycemic parameters, and promote weight reduction, and cardiovascular safety in the patients. 

“Glenmark is proud to introduce Lirafit, a novel and affordable biosimilar of the drug Liraglutide, for the first time in India. With this launch, we have now ventured into the injectable anti‐diabetic market taking another significant stride in the diabetes therapy space,” said Alok Malik, president and business head ‐ India Formulations, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals.

According to the ICMR-INDIAB study conducted between October 2008 and December 2020, the overall weighted prevalence of diabetes in India was 11.4%. The market for GLP-1 RA in India is estimated to be Rs 259 crores, as per IQVIA sales data.  

Glenmark entered the diabetes treatment scene with the launch of the DPP4 inhibitor Teneligliptin, marketed as Zita Plus/Ziten, and its fixed-dose combination with Metformin in 2015. The company in 2019 launched Remogliflozin which is sold as Remo/Remozen. 2022 saw the entry of Sitagliptin which the company marketed as Sitazit along with its fixed-dose combinations. In 2023 they introduced Lobeglitazone and more Teneligliptin combinations. 

Headquartered in Mumbai, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals operates globally in branded, generics, and over-the-counter segments, focusing on therapeutic areas such as respiratory, dermatology, and oncology.