JOIN USNeoBiocon on Wednesday announced a partnership with Novartis to market its Jalra (vildagliptin) and Jalra-M (vildagliptin+metformin) in the UAE. This gives NeoBiocon, a collaboration between Biocon and Dr B R Reddy-led Neopharma, access to the $115 million oral anti-diabetes drugs market in the UAE.
Vildagliptin is an oral anti-diabetic agent that delivers consistent blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors, which constitute 50 per cent of the oral anti-diabetes market in the UAE.
Novartis already sells DPP-IV inhibitors under the brand names of Galvus and Galvusmet, the same molecule that NeoBiocon will sell under the brands Jalra and Jalra-M. Together vildagliptin and vildagliptin+metformin command over 30 per cent of the DPP-IV market in the UAE.
“The patnership with NeoBiocon, which aims to help more diabetic patients to gain access to innovative medications, also supports the local manufacturing industry,” said Mohamed Ezz Eldin, Country Pharmaceutical Organisation Head (UAE) , Novartis.
Dr B R Shetty, Chairman, Neopharma, said: “Biocon’s leadership in the diabetes segment will augur well for marketing these brands in the UAE.”
Having received approvals from the Ministry of Health — UAE for marketing Jalra, and Jalra-M in the country, NeoBiocon is ready to launch the drugs there in January 2016.