Sun Pharma and AstraZeneca India enter partnership in type 2 diabetes

Indian drug major Sun Pharma (BSE: 524715) and the Indian subsidiary of Anglo-Swedish pharma firm AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) have announced a partnership for the distribution of dapagliflozin, an innovative type 2 diabetes medicine, in India.

Forxiga (dapagliflozin) is AstraZeneca India’s leading diabetes medicine. Under the agreement, Sun Pharma will promote and distribute dapagliflozin under the brand name Oxra. AstraZeneca India markets dapagliflozin under the brand name Forxiga and under the terms of the agreement, both companies will promote, market and distribute dapagliflozin in India under different brand names. AstraZeneca will retain the intellectual property rights to dapagliflozin. No financial terms of the deal were disclosed.

Sun Pharma will also gain the rights to promote and distribute the combination of dapagliflozin with metformin under the brand name Oxramet, following regulatory approval. AstraZeneca India is currently seeking approval from the Drug Controller General of India for the combination of dapagliflozin with metformin.