Lupin Limited snaps up Boehringer Ingelheim’s diabetes brands to expand its product portfolio in India

INDIA – Lupin Limited has finalized the acquisition of two diabetes brands, ONDERO and ONDERO MET, from Boehringer Ingelheim at an undisclosed amount of funding.

As of August 2022, the cost of acquisition of these brands stood at € 26 million (US$28.23 million) and the indicative time period for acquisition was expected to be completed by the end of August 2023.

ONDERO (Linagliptin) and ONDERO MET (Linagliptin + Metformin), developed by Boehringer Ingelheim, are the gold standard in diabetes management.

Under the acquisition agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim, Lupin Limited has gained the trademark rights associated with the two diabetes brands.

This acquisition strengthens Lupin’s commitment to providing superior treatment options for patients navigating the complexities of diabetes.

In a press statement, Rajeev Sibal, President of India Region Formulations (IRF) at Lupin Limited, said: “This important acquisition reflects our steadfast dedication to empowering healthcare professionals to combat the growing menace of diabetes in India and significantly improve the lives of those facing this challenging disease.”

It sets forward Lupin’s ambitious vision for mitigating the high burden of diabetes in India, with at least 15.3% of the population projected to be in the pre-diabetes stage.

According to a recent study published by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India currently has more than 101 million people living with diabetes compared to 70 million people in 2019.

In India, an estimated 77 million people above the age of 18 years have Type-2 Diabetes, according to the ICMR.

As per these estimates, 101 million people in the country are diabetic, and in the pre-diabetes stage, there are another 136 million people.

Commenting on the disease burden, Rajeev Sibal stated: “The disease burden of diabetes is constantly increasing and it is fuelled by the prevalence of obesity and unhealthy lifestyles.”

With the acquisition of ONDERO and ONDERO MET, Lupin Limited will revitalize its efforts to offer a wide portfolio of products to enable access to medication for diabetic patients in the country.

It is a clear demonstration of the company’s strategic endeavors to remain at the forefront of providing quality pharmaceutical products to patients in India and beyond the subcontinent.

This acquisition will help the global pharma major to further consolidate its position as a market leader in the anti-diabetes segment.

Additionally, the strategic alliance is anticipated to build on the progress made since the initial contract signed between Lupin Limited and Boehringer Ingelheim India.

It leverages the collective diabetes care capabilities of the two leading pharmaceutical companies to address patient needs arising from the growing global diabetes epidemic.

Lupin Limited has been marketing ONDERO and ONDERO MET since 2015 in the Indian market as part of a co-marketing agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim India.

Comparably, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Eli Lilly and partner Boehringer Ingelheim’s drugs Jardiance and Synjardy to treat type 2 diabetes in children.

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