The diabetes practitioners and millions of people with diabetes in India as affordable generics of currently overpriced Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) or gliflozins are going to be available in Indian market following the patent expiry of the Dapagliflozin. The launch of generics is going to slash the price of Dapagliflozin by almost 75%, offering affordability to a larger population.

Currently, Metformin +Sulfonylureas remain the No.1 oral anti diabetic agent in India followed by Gliptins. SGLT2i like Dapagliflozin, Empagliflozin and Canagliflozin are the fastest growing antidiabetics with plethora of data demonstrating their benefits in diabetes management and prevention of diabetes complications. However, in the past 1 year, affordable Remogliflozin made a big dent in the market in spite of the fact its not well evidenced like other gliflozins. 

Dapagliflozin is first in its class to be approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in adults with and without type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Last year, it was approved by the USFDA to reduce hospitalization risk for heart failure in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease or risk factors.

Without any established insurance penetration in India, on an average every diabetic patient is spending approx. ₹18,890/- per year out of pocket. This only includes direct costs including cost of consultation, cost of medicines, laboratory investigations, complication care, hospitalization, transportation, etc. The huge price reduction brought by generics is expected to bring an array of new prescribers in India passing the benefit to more needy patients. The treatment adherence will starkly increase and more number of new patients who otherwise would not have afforded this class now can avail the benefits.

We will share more information as more players enter this generic market. Please share your feedback.