Mumbai: A completely new drug in the sodium glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor class is being introduced for the first time globally, which can possibly disturb the anti-diabetes market by lowering the cost of therapy by around 60%.

The drug offers affordable treatment for millions of type 2 diabetes patients. The drug, remogliflozin, will be priced around Rs 25 for daily therapy, compared to other drugs in the same class available between Rs 55 and Rs 60 per day.

This marks the first global approval to a new drug application by the regulator for an SGLT2 inhibitor in India. SGLT2 inhibitors are among the fastest-selling diabetes drugs globally, amounting to $9 billion. In India, they grew by 10 times over three years to nearly Rs 600 crore.

The economic burden of diabetes is high in India. Most patients have to pay out of their pocket for treatment owing to lack of medical reimbursement. The cost of treatment includes consultation, investigations, drugs and monitoring, and due to the nature of the disease, the related complications may increase it considerably.

The SGLT2 inhibitors provide glycemic control, induce weight loss and reduce cardiovascular risks. Anoop Misra, an endocrinologist, says that this is an excellent class of drugs. The pricing advantage of remogliflozin will be attractive for patients who cannot afford the expensive alternatives. However, more robust trials are needed to prove the efficacy and safety of the drug.

Data from market research firm, IQVIA, estimates the diabetes market in India at Rs 11,500 crore (MAT March 2019), and that of SGLT2 inhibitors is estimated at nearly Rs 600 crore. (TNN)