Novo Nordisk to expand reach to diabetes patients in India

In a bid to expand its reach in the Indian diabetes market, Danish drug maker Novo Nordisk plans to add about 2 million diabetes patients after expansion of the existing insulin plant of manufacturing partner Torrent Pharmaceuticals at Indrad near Ahmedabad.

Novo Nordisk and Torrent announced commissioning of the expanded insulin manufacturing plant, which currently gives access to diabetes medicines to about 3 million people in the country. Dubbed as the diabetes capital of the world, India - according to the International Diabetes Federation 8th Atlas - is home to 72.9 million people with diabetes. The number is expected to go up to 134.3 million by 2045.

The newly expanded facility was inaugurated by Peter Taksoe-Jensen, Danish ambassador to India, in the presence of Frederik Kier, senior vice-president, Region AAMEO, Novo Nordisk.

Currently, the Indrad facility meets 70-75 per cent of Novo's domestic requirement of insulin for the Indian market. After the expansion, the company will be in a position to increase its reach to diabetic patients.

Melvin D’Souza, Managing Director, Novo Nordisk India, said, "The growth of diabetes in India is alarming and people with diabetes have a right to access affordable, quality medication. Through this partnership, we will continue to ensure the provision of cost-effective yet high-quality medication with increased manufacturing capacity."

According to D'Souza, Novo commands a 60 per cent market share of India's insulin market, which is estimated at Rs 2,200 crore, with an annual growth rate of 15-17 per cent.

Torrent has invested Rs 60 crore so far for the plant, which has an existing capacity of about 26 million vials. "There will be a 30-35 per cent increase in capacity post expansion. The entire facility is dedicated for Novo Nordisk. As we embark on a new path at Torrent, we look forward to working collaboratively with Novo Nordisk to ensure the diabetes challenge in India is addressed effectively," said Jinesh Shah, Executive Director, Torrent Pharmaceuticals.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals and Novo Nordisk marked 25 years of partnership in India since 1992 with the manufacture and launch of insulin in 40 IU vials. In 2009, an integrated manufacturing and vial packaging plant was inaugurated at Indrad.

On the price control regime in India, D'souza said: "Though our human insulin product prices have remained under price control for years and human insulin vial product prices have dropped by 35-40 per cent over the past 15 years, we continue to focus attention on insulin. That shows we have an appetite to get our products in the market and cater to the need for good quality and affordable insulin."

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