Zydus Healthcare Limited announced that it is launching the anti-diabetic Dapagliflozin tablets in India upon its patent expiry under the brand name ‘Dapaglyn’. In keeping with its efforts to make therapies accessible and affordable to patients, the drug will be highly economical, priced at 1/3rd the cost than currently available Dapagliflozin brands in India. A once-daily oral treatment indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise, Dapaglyn aims to improve glycemic control in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Dapagliflozin is part of a newer class of medications called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. It lowers blood sugar by causing the kidneys to get rid of more glucose in the urine. People who have diabetes can develop serious or life-threatening complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, nerve damage, and eye problems. Taking Dapagliflozin, along with lifestyle changes (e.g., diet, exercise, quitting smoking), and regularly checking one’s blood sugar may help patients manage their blood sugar levels and improve their health.

With diabetes becoming a major health burden in India which has a patient population of almost 77 million diabetics, it is critical to have therapies that are affordable and accessible to patients from all sections of society. With Dapaglyn, a new generation of anti-diabetic therapy will now be accessible to a larger number of patients, thereby bringing in better compliance and improved disease management.