Mumbai-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has launched a biosimilar of the popular anti-diabetic drug, Liraglutide, for the first time in India. The drug is being marketed under the brand name Lirafit following the approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). Priced at around Rs 100 for a standard dose of 1.2 mg (per day), this will lower the cost of therapy by approximately 70%, and will be available only under prescription.

Liraglutide belongs to the class of glucagon-like peptide receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) drugs, which increase glucose-dependent insulin secretion and decrease in appropriate glucagon secretion.  It has been approved globally for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adult patients in the United States and the European Union.

Liraglutide has a proven efficacy in improving glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Clinical trials on Indian adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus over a 24-week period have demonstrated Lirafit to be effective, safe and well-tolerated.

"Liraglutide has proven to have a positive impact on cardiac and renal safety outcomes among patients in clinical trials, making it an effective choice of treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. With this launch, we have now ventured into the injectable anti-diabetic market taking another significant stride in the diabetes therapy space," remarked Alok Malik, President and Business Head – India Formulations, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals.