Gliptins Global Competition, Will Impact India Too

Global market for diabetes drugs exceeds over $21 billion in 2006 and is still expanding rapidly due to the high prevalence of diabetes and lifestyle changes (WHO index) with India estimated to lead in numbers of diabetic population closely followed by China and the US. Such figures not only pushed drug research companies to expand their R&D pipelines for anti-diabetic drug candidates but also fuelled the competitive race among the drug companies to capture this cut-throat yet money-spinning segment and introduce new therapeutically superior drugs before the rivals’ potential drugs. One such area is emergence of new class of oral hypoglycemics which block enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV, particularly known as Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (DPP IV) inhibitors. Also referred as Gliptins, DPP IV inhibitors are emerging drug class for the treatment of Type II diabetes. According to the industry analysts, DPP IV inhibitors has therapeutic and market potential to achieve blockbuster status.

Indian Patent Pipeline

Gliptins global competition is also reflecting in India, with mail-box applications pending with Indian Patent Office for most of the gliptins including Vildagliptin, Sitagliptin, Saxagliptin, Denagliptin and indigenously invented Melogliptin. Drug companies had surely done their homework over India’s diabetes facts & figures, and strategically moved to file patent applications in India. Let’s have a quick patent check for some of the important gliptins pending with/granted by Indian Patent Office.

To be continued …