India's largest drugmaker, Sun Pharma Ltd. has signed a marketing and distribution agreement for distributing a second brand of Finerenone in India, it said in an exchange filing.
Finerenone, a patented medicine is used to reduce in heart failure in adult patients with chronic kidney disease associated with a type-2 diabetes mellitus.
Under the agreement, Sun Pharma has non-exclusive rights to market and distribute the second brand of Finerenone under the Lyvelsa brand name. The patented drug was launched by Bayer first in 2022 under the brand name Kerendia.
India has the second-highest number of people with diabetes after China. Over 40% of the patients with diabetes will develop chronic kidney disease, according to a study by The Indian Chronic Kidney Disease (ICKD).
A phase-III clinical trial program of Finerenone showed that it significantly reduced the risk of composite Cardio Vascular outcome by 14%.
Kirti Ganorkar, CEO of Sun Pharma's India business said that the collaboration will provide patients access to a new treatment, which slows down the progression of chronic kidney disease and reduces the risk of kidney failure associated with Type-2 diabetes.
"Through our partnership with Sun Pharma, we are advancing Bayer’s commitment of making healthcare accessible to as many patients as possible. India has a high incidence of diabetes and associated renal and cardiac conditions," said Shweta Rai, Country Division Head of Bayer's Pharma business in South Asia.
In an interaction with CNBC-TV18 post its September quarter results, Group CFO CS Muralidharan said that the company has maintained its financial year 2024 revenue guidance.
Shares of Sun Pharma are trading 1.1% lower at ₹1,298.70. The stock has risen 25% over the last 12 months.
