India quashes Novartis' Entresto patent order, opening market for generics

As a blockbuster heart failure drug by Swiss pharma giant Novartis (NOVN: VX) goes off-patent, several Indian drug majors are rushing to market with their generic applications. The patent loss of Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) has brought on significant disruptions in India’s cardiology sector. High courtroom drama ensued a few days before the patent loss and had everyone on tenterhooks, reports The Pharma Letter’s India correspondent.

In India, Entresto is marketed as Vymada by Novartis, while the product's secondary brands Cidmus and Azmarda are marketed by local partners Lupin (BOM: 500257) and Cipla (BOM: 500087), respectively.

The drug is one of the fastest-growing drugs in the country's cardiovascular market. With a cardiac market valued at approximately $2.83 billion in India alone, Vymada reportedly reached $67.71 million sales in the Indian cardiac market. It is estimated to have a size of $4 billion globally.