SUNPHARMA

The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are her own.

By Shritama Bose

MUMBAI, May 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - India Inc's global M&A push is coming at an inopportune time for its government. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries SUN.NS last week agreed to buy U.S.-based Organon OGN.N for $11.8 billion, months after Tata Motors' TATM.NS $4.4 billion deal to acquire Iveco's IVG.MI trucks unit. A quest for new markets and technology promises more outbound approaches. That may eventually hand New Delhi reasons to feel displeased.

Cross-border acquisitions by Indian groups are on the rise. In 2025, large-ticket transactions like Tata Motors' Iveco purchase and IT firm Coforge's COFO.NS $2.4 billion acquisition of U.S.-based Encora contributed to a $26 billion splurge on overseas assets, the most active year by volume since 2010, per Dialogic.

It's sensible for Indian companies sitting on a large cash balance to deploy it in markets where valuation multiples are lower, rather than to acquire richly valued local peers. Sun Pharma trades at 33 times forward earnings and is paying just 4 times that metric for similarly sized Organon; smaller Indian rivals like Torrent Pharma TORP.NS and Divi's Laboratories DIVI.NS trade at much higher multiples.

Access to richer markets in Asia, Europe and the U.S. is also a big draw, as is technological know-how. Tata Motors' TAMO.NS 2008 buyout of Jaguar Land Rover helped build its local range of electric cars. The incentive to buy tech firms is especially high as India's own investment in R&D, at 0.7% of GDP, lags the global average of 2%.

Interest in external assets will intensify as advances in artificial intelligence force groups from outsourcers to drugmakers to level up. Manufacturers investing in areas like defence, vehicle components and consumer electronics will look to bridge India's capability gap with the rest of the world.

New Delhi has so far been sanguine about the trend, seeing it as a sign of India Inc's growing clout on the global stage. That could change as outbound fund flows add to rising pressures on external balances. With a surging energy import bill and fund outflows, India could be staring at a third straight financial year of a negative balance of payments in the 12 months to the end of March 2027.

Part of the cash being splurged overseas stems from a 2019 decision to sharply cut the corporate tax rate; officials hoped that would encourage firms to invest more locally to stimulate growth and employment. While private spending is showing signs of life, its contribution to GDP is below historical levels.

In time, New Delhi may find those dimensions of India Inc's overseas shopping spree unpalatable and act against them. Until then, there's little reason for companies to stop gazing outwards.

Follow Shritama Bose on LinkedIn and X.

CONTEXT NEWS

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries on April 27 said it will buy ​U.S. drugmaker Organon in an all-cash deal valuing the target at about $11.75 billion including debt, making it ‌the largest overseas acquisition by an Indian pharmaceutical company.

Indian IT services provider Coforge said on December 26 it would acquire artificial intelligence firm Encora at an enterprise value of $2.35 billion to boost its in-house artificial intelligence capabilities and expand its presence in the U.S. and Latin America.

(Editing by Antony Currie; Production by Ujjaini Dutta)

((For previous columns by the author, Reuters customers can click on BOSE/[email protected]))

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By Ira Dugal

May 5 - Sun Pharmaceutical's mammoth all-cash bid for U.S. drugmaker Organon & Co last week is yet another instance of Indian companies making bolder bets overseas, backed by the strength of their balance sheets.

But history shows that returns from these cross‑border deals are not always assured. With global M&A now becoming a strategic necessity rather than just offering bragging rights, is that likely to change? Write to me with your views on Indian companies' growing global ambitions at [email protected].

And, two executives are in the running for the post of Air India CEO. Scroll down for more on that.

THIS WEEK IN ASIA

• While Asia and Europe scramble for natural gas, the US glut has nowhere to go

• China's central bank guides banks to step up lending in April, sources say

• Investors are running out of time to brace for true oil shock

• One of Iran’s most powerful families founded its largest crypto exchange. It’s used by the IRGC to move millions

NOT JUST AMBITION, BUT A STRATEGIC NEED

From pharmaceuticals to IT, Indian firms across sectors are looking overseas in search of newer markets, products and technologies for their next burst of growth.

Sun Pharma is buying Organon in a deal valued at about $11.75 billion including debt, ‌making it the largest overseas acquisition by an Indian pharma company.

It eclipsed another large overseas bet just months ago by IT firm Coforge to acquire artificial intelligence firm Encora for $2.35 billion, and Tata Motors' purchase of Italian commercial vehicle manufacturer Iveco for $4.45 billion in July 2025.

The first quarter of 2026 has seen 56 outbound transactions valued at $3.9 billion, according to data from advisory firm Grant Thornton Bharat LLP. In 2025, 162 such deals worth $18.2 billion were closed.

Proximity to customers, control over distribution and insulation from trade barriers are important drivers of outbound M&A, said Bhavesh Shah, managing director and head of investment banking at Mumbai-based investment bank Equirus Capital.

"What’s changed is the rise in capability-led acquisitions, whether it’s R&D, specialty products, or technology," Shah said. "So earlier it was about global ambition; today it’s more a strategic necessity to stay competitive and de-risk supply chains."

Sun Pharma, for instance, is acquiring a suite of products in women's health with the Organon purchase - a segment projected to have a $600 billion opportunity. Coforge entered the much-in-demand agentic AI space with its acquisition of U.S.-based Encora.

"Together, the two deals capture the full spectrum of India's outbound ambition: buying capability where it does not exist domestically and buying global scale where organic growth would take decades," said Sumeet Abrol, partner and national leader for deals at Grant Thornton Bharat.

GROWTH OF FINANCING OPTIONS

Corporate India's overseas ambitions have ebbed and flowed over the years, and some have left individual companies burdened with debt.

The buyout rush of the early 2000s - which saw Tata Steel acquire Anglo-Dutch group Corus for $12 billion, Tata Motors buy out iconic British brands Jaguar and Land Rover for $2.3 billion and Hindalco acquire Canada's Novelis for $6 billion - was one of the reasons that led to excess leverage on corporate balance sheets.

But after a decade-long clean-up, debt on most Indian corporate balance sheets is low. The median debt-to-EBITDA for rated Indian corporates was at 0.5 times as of March 2026, while interest coverage ratio was 5 times, according to rating agency CRISIL.

Recent deals don't immediately raise red flags, analysts said.

"Funding has been quite disciplined this cycle. It’s a good mix of internal accruals and moderate leverage," said Equirus' Shah.

Transactions such as Tata Motors' purchase of Iveco have also seen the increased use of guarantees to raise debt in overseas units. Tata Motors issued a $2.26 billion guarantee to back financing for the deal.

"The availability of debt financing on target balance sheets in overseas markets (LBOs) with no or limited recourse to acquiring balance sheets in India is also fueling some of this activity while keeping the Indian balance sheets deleveraged," said Grant Thornton's Abrol, adding that these financing options are increasingly available to even mid-market companies.

Abrol, however, said the deal struck by Sun Pharma is a transaction that needs to be "watched carefully" for balance sheet discipline.

"Post-transaction, the combined entity's net debt-to-EBITDA is projected at 2.3x — manageable, but a meaningful departure from Sun Pharma's historically net cash positive position," he said.

The company said it aims to bring down debt "soon", with analysts expecting a three-four year period for debt reduction.

MARKET MATTERS

Foreign investors have continued to offload Indian shares, selling a net $6.5 billion in April after dumping $12.7 billion in March. With no quick resolution to the war between U.S.-Israel and Iran, investors expect earnings growth in India to slow, making valuations unattractive. Read here.

The persistent outflows have pushed the rupee back down to record lows despite steps taken by the central bank to support the currency.

The Indian central bank is mulling steps to draw dollar flows, Reuters reported on Monday.

THIS WEEK'S MUST-READ

The Tata Group has zoomed in on two possible options for the post of Air India CEO, which fell vacant when Campbell Wilson resigned last month. Singapore Airlines executive Vinod Kannan and Air India's commercial head Nipun Aggarwal are the two frontrunners to become the new CEO of Air India, Reuters' Aditya Kalra and Abhijith Ganapavaram report.

(Reporting by Ira Dugal; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

(([email protected]))

Corrects fifth paragraph to show that Sun Pharma’s return on its acquisition is 12.9%, not nearly 18% as previously stated. The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are her own.

By Shritama Bose

MUMBAI, April 27 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A quest for new markets is charging up outbound M&A in India. In what could be one of the country's largest ever cross-border acquisitions, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries SUN.NS, its top drugmaker by revenue, on Monday said it will buy U.S.-based Organon OGN.N for nearly $12 billion, including debt. The deal gives the buyer access to other parts of Asia and deepens its European presence as well as Organon's position in women's health. Investors may quibble about the cash burn but it’s a price worth paying.

Sun Pharma offered $14 for each Organon share in the all-cash transaction, representing a 24% premium to the target’s closing price on Friday. For its $12 billion, the Indian group gets a commanding position in women's health, including menopause treatments where Organon is a global leader, alongside a portfolio of hard-to-replicate biosimilars. The acquisition also hands Sun a foothold in China and South Korea, two markets it has long coveted, and a direct-to-consumer sales platform in Europe that could reshape how it reaches patients across the continent.

The tricky part is boosting growth at the New Jersey-based target, which logged a 3% fall in its revenue last year. Sun Pharma could boost an already fast-growing market for contraceptives and fertility products and still-developing therapies for unmet needs, such as menopause-linked complications. Revamping Organon will require its new owner to leverage its global partnerships for marketing and spruce up supply chains.

But this all comes at a price. To capture that long-term opportunity, Sun is splashing its cash, a rare move for an Indian company. After the acquisition the Indian drugmaker’s net debt will be equivalent to 2.3 times its EBITDA.

The gamble may well pay off. Organon is expected to earn around $1.8 billion of operating profit in 2028, per LSEG forecasts. Sun Pharma expects the merger will eventually generate $350 million in synergies. Assuming Organon's tax rate stays at 29.5%, Sun Pharma can reap a 12.9% return on investment by 2028, well above the U.S. pharmaceutical industry’s weighted average cost of capital of 7.85%, according to data from NYU Stern School of Business.

To be sure, analysts are concerned about the target's thinning pipeline of exclusive products and increased pricing pressure. The cure, ultimately, will hinge on Sun Pharma's ability to revive a business with more potential than its recent results suggest.

Follow Shritama Bose on LinkedIn and X.

CONTEXT NEWS

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries will buy all the outstanding shares in U.S.-based drugmaker Organon in an all-cash transaction valuing the target's enterprise, including debt, at $11.75 billion, the companies said in a joint statement on April 27. The Indian acquirer will pay $14 a share, a 24% premium to Organon's closing price on April 24.

Shares in Sun Pharma were trading nearly 7% higher at 0626 GMT on April 27.

(Editing by Aimee Donnellan; Production by Ujjaini Dutta and Shrabani Chakraborty)

((For previous columns by the author, Reuters customers can click on BOSE/[email protected]))

Corrects fifth paragraph to show that Sun Pharma’s return on its acquisition is 12.9%, not nearly 18% as previously stated. The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are her own.

By Shritama Bose

MUMBAI, April 27 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A quest for new markets is charging up outbound M&A in India. In what could be one of the country's largest ever cross-border acquisitions, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries SUN.NS, its top drugmaker by revenue, on Monday said it will buy U.S.-based Organon OGN.N for nearly $12 billion, including debt. The deal gives the buyer access to other parts of Asia and deepens its European presence as well as Organon's position in women's health. Investors may quibble about the cash burn but it’s a price worth paying.

Sun Pharma offered $14 for each Organon share in the all-cash transaction, representing a 24% premium to the target’s closing price on Friday. For its $12 billion, the Indian group gets a commanding position in women's health, including menopause treatments where Organon is a global leader, alongside a portfolio of hard-to-replicate biosimilars. The acquisition also hands Sun a foothold in China and South Korea, two markets it has long coveted, and a direct-to-consumer sales platform in Europe that could reshape how it reaches patients across the continent.

The tricky part is boosting growth at the New Jersey-based target, which logged a 3% fall in its revenue last year. Sun Pharma could boost an already fast-growing market for contraceptives and fertility products and still-developing therapies for unmet needs, such as menopause-linked complications. Revamping Organon will require its new owner to leverage its global partnerships for marketing and spruce up supply chains.

But this all comes at a price. To capture that long-term opportunity, Sun is splashing its cash, a rare move for an Indian company. After the acquisition the Indian drugmaker’s net debt will be equivalent to 2.3 times its EBITDA.

The gamble may well pay off. Organon is expected to earn around $1.8 billion of operating profit in 2028, per LSEG forecasts. Sun Pharma expects the merger will eventually generate $350 million in synergies. Assuming Organon's tax rate stays at 29.5%, Sun Pharma can reap a 12.9% return on investment by 2028, well above the U.S. pharmaceutical industry’s weighted average cost of capital of 7.85%, according to data from NYU Stern School of Business.

To be sure, analysts are concerned about the target's thinning pipeline of exclusive products and increased pricing pressure. The cure, ultimately, will hinge on Sun Pharma's ability to revive a business with more potential than its recent results suggest.

Follow Shritama Bose on LinkedIn and X.

CONTEXT NEWS

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries will buy all the outstanding shares in U.S.-based drugmaker Organon in an all-cash transaction valuing the target's enterprise, including debt, at $11.75 billion, the companies said in a joint statement on April 27. The Indian acquirer will pay $14 a share, a 24% premium to Organon's closing price on April 24.

Shares in Sun Pharma were trading nearly 7% higher at 0626 GMT on April 27.

(Editing by Aimee Donnellan; Production by Ujjaini Dutta and Shrabani Chakraborty)

((For previous columns by the author, Reuters customers can click on BOSE/[email protected]))

April 24 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd SUN.NS:

• SUN PHARMA - INCORPORATES SUN PHARMA AMERICA, INC. IN UNITED STATES

Source text: ID:nBSE5kvvyT

Further company coverage: SUN.NS

(([email protected];))

-- Source link: https://tinyurl.com/eu9hk23y

-- Note: Reuters has not verified this story and does not vouch for its accuracy

(([email protected]))

By Rishika Sadam

HYDERABAD, India, April 3 (Reuters) - Soon-to-be brides and grooms seeking shortcuts to shed pounds before the big day have become the latest consumer target for weight-loss drugs in India.

New Delhi wellness clinic Klarity Skin Clinic touts a "Mounjaro bride" package, while other clinics have woven weight-loss injections into "pre-wedding" transformation packages typically focused on skin treatments and hairstyle makeovers.

In a social media video, Klarity offers "guided nutrition, Mounjaro and smart workouts" to prepare brides to walk down the aisle. The clinic did not respond to a request for comment.

Eight doctors interviewed by Reuters said they have been fielding inquiries from brides, and some grooms, about taking weight-loss drugs before taking their vows. Many asked for Eli Lilly's LLY.N Mounjaro, the first GLP-1 medication to enter India's market for both diabetes and weight loss. It has become more sought after than Novo Nordisk's NOVOb.CO rival Wegovy, the doctors said.

"Over the last few months, over 20% of the queries we've received for obesity injections are from to-be brides, who also openly give us a timeline on how soon they are getting married," said Rajat Goel, a bariatric surgeon at Hindivine Healthcare in New Delhi.

He said he prescribed the drugs only if patients were medically eligible, not for cosmetic use.

TRADITION AND SOCIETAL PRESSURE

Weddings in India are grand affairs for families that can afford them, with culture and tradition exerting a strong influence. Many marriages continue to be arranged by families, often bringing expectations around physical appearance and financial status.

Aditi, a 26-year-old finance worker from Mumbai, consulted a doctor in November for a weight-loss prescription after exercise and diet failed to get the desired results.

"When I see the result, I feel happy,” Aditi said about losing 10 kilograms (22 pounds) on Mounjaro before her February wedding. "If I am not happy, I don't feel confident. I did not want to feel that way at the time of the wedding."

She is one of the half a dozen brides, and one groom, who spoke to Reuters about pre-wedding use of weight-loss drugs, but asked not to use their family names due to social stigmas. They cited societal pressure to look a "certain way" at their wedding and most had discontinued the injections soon after.

Novo and Lilly launched their obesity drugs in India last year. The market is forecast to reach 80 billion rupees ($851.79 million) by 2030. Mounjaro sales doubled in the months after launch, making it the highest-selling drug in the world's most populous nation.

Indian drugmakers began selling cheaper versions of Novo's medicine last month after the patent on semaglutide, its active ingredient, expired, widening access.

The drugs are intended for adults classified as obese, or for those considered overweight with a weight-related medical condition such as diabetes, hypertension or sleep apnea.

"Mounjaro has been approved by regulators for specific medical indications and is intended to be used only under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional," Lilly said in a statement.

The lowest Mounjaro injection pen dose sells for 13,125 rupees ($139.50) per month in India, while the highest dose costs 25,781 rupees.

Novo, which this week cut prices of Ozempic and Wegovy for the second time, is selling the lowest Wegovy dose for 5,660 rupees ($60.90) and the highest for 16,400 rupees a month.

Novo said it discourages any form of self-medication of semaglutide or deviation from the indicated use on label.

CHEAPER DRUGS, MISUSE CONCERNS

India could have more than 440 million overweight or obese people by 2050, one of the world's highest totals, according to The Lancet.

Akshitha, who got married in Hyderabad last year, said the drugs helped her shed 15 kg (33 pounds), taking her weight to 76 kg before the wedding. A family doctor had suggested she try the injections when she worried about her weight, she said.

"There's so much chaos before the wedding, with all the planning and preparation. I knew I would not get time to go to the gym and be on a diet. That's when these drugs looked like a better option," she said, adding she might consider using them again after a future pregnancy.

With local drugmakers flooding the market with cheaper weight-loss medicines, India's drugs regulator has raised concerns about misuse and intensified scrutiny of unauthorized sales and promotion.

"We understand the curiosity, but this cannot be a quick fix," said Dr. Swati Pradhan, founder of obesity and metabolic wellness clinic Live Light.

Pradhan said she prescribed the injections to only a few soon-to-be brides if they were medically eligible and showed signs of other medical issues, while insisting on lifestyle changes for sustainable results.

For 27-year-old Priya, a tech worker from Bengaluru, weight-loss drugs became a way to counter body-shaming from prospective grooms' families.

"I've had men and their families reject my proposal because of my weight. I was told I was fat," Priya told Reuters.

She initially used Novo's oral semaglutide, approved in India for diabetes, as an off-label treatment and lost more than 12 kg before switching to injectable Mounjaro.

Her search for a groom continues.

($1 = 94.0850 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam in Hyderabad; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

(([email protected];))

Adds details, background, comments

By Rishika Sadam

March 31 (Reuters) - Novo Nordisk NOVOb.CO has again cut the prices of its blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy by up to 36% and 48% in India, to fend off competition from cheaper generics made by local drugmakers.

India's market for diabetes and weight-loss drugs is set for a shake-up after the Danish drugmaker's patent on semaglutide, the active component in Ozempic and Wegovy, expired on March 20.

At least half a dozen Indian drugmakers, including Dr Reddy's REDY.NS, Zydus ZYDU.NS and Sun Pharma SUN.NS, launched multiple brands of the blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drugs, up to 70% cheaper than Novo's drugs in some cases.

Ozempic's and Wegovy's lowest doses of 0.25 mg in India will now be priced at 1,415 rupees ($15.04) for a weekly shot from 2,200 rupees and 2,712 rupees earlier, respectively, Novo Nordisk India said in a statement on Tuesday.

The average price reduction across doses is 23.8% for Ozempic and 27% for Wegovy, it said.

"We've heard from patients and doctors, and we're acting on that feedback," said Vikrant Shrotriya, managing director at Novo Nordisk India, adding that the drugs also offer cardiovascular benefits.

The entry of generics will also challenge Novo and U.S. rival Eli Lilly LLY.N, which launched its blockbuster diabetes and obesity drugs in India last year, as they seek to cement their position in the country.

Lilly's Mounjaro became India's top-selling drug by value within months of its launch, according to data from Pharmarack, a research firm.

Novo's Ozempic is available in three dose strengths of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg in India, while Wegovy has five dose strengths.

Ozempic's and Wegovy's 1 mg weekly shot is now priced at 2,275 rupees ($24.18) after price cuts of 18.5% and 34.2%, respectively. The company slashed Wegovy's 0.5 mg dose price by 41.5% to 2,025 rupees.

"..this price reduction reflects how innovation can become more accessible when market dynamics evolve," Venu Gopal Pareek, a bariatric surgeon said, adding that patients might choose Novo's drugs over generics given that it is an original molecule, and if the price difference is not beyond 15%.

Last year, Novo slashed Wegovy's price for the first time by up to 37% from its launch price, anticipating stiff competition from local drugmakers.

($1 = 93.9890 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam and Yagnoseni Das in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath and Janane Venkatraman)

(([email protected]))

March 27 (Reuters) - SUN PHARMA:

• PARTNER PHILOGEN'S PHASE II FLASH STUDY IN SOFT TISSUE SARCOMA DID NOT MEET PRIMARY ENDPOINT

• PHILOGEN'S PHASE II GLIOSTAR TRIAL IN GLIOBLASTOMA DID NOT MEET PRIMARY ENDPOINT

• PHILOGEN REMAINS COMMITTED TO EXECUTION OF GLIOSUN CLINICAL TRIAL

Source text: ID:nBSE70fvgH

Further company coverage: PHIL.MI

(([email protected];))

Adds background, details from statement

March 24 (Reuters) - India's drug regulator has tightened surveillance against the unauthorised sale and promotion of weight-loss drugs, the health ministry said on Tuesday, after local drugmakers launched cheaper generic versions of Ozempic and Wegovy over the weekend.

At least half a dozen Indian drugmakers, including Dr Reddy's REDY.NS, Zydus ZYDU.NS and Sun Pharma SUN.NS, launched multiple brands of the blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drugs, up to 70% cheaper than Novo Nordisk's drugs in some cases, after the patent for semaglutide expired last week.

Semaglutide is the active component in Ozempic and Wegovy.

The patent expiry had triggered concerns about misuse and confusion among prescribers as costs fall sharply.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) conducted inspections at 49 entities across the country, including drug wholesalers, retailers, and slimming clinics, the statement said.

It focused on identifying violations related to unauthorised sale, improper prescription practices, and misleading marketing, the statement said, adding that notices were sent to defaulting entities.

"These drugs, when used without proper medical supervision, may lead to serious adverse effects and related health risks," the statement said, adding that there have been concerns regarding their on-demand availability across various platforms.

Earlier this month, the CDSCO also warned pharmaceutical companies against direct or indirect advertising of weight-loss medicines, including obesity awareness campaigns that could act as surrogate promotions.

Analysts had expected more than 40 Indian drugmakers to launch over 50 brands after patent expiry, as they race to grab a share of the market that could grow to 80 billion rupees ($852.62 million) by 2030 from about 15 billion rupees today, according to research firm Pharmarack.

($1 = 93.8280 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam in Hyderabad and Urvi Dugar in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Janane Venkatraman)

(([email protected]))

March 23 (Reuters) - At least half a dozen Indian generic drugmakers launched cheaper versions of Novo Nordisk's NOVOb.CO blockbuster diabetes drug Ozempic and weight‑loss drug Wegovy over the weekend, at globally unmatched prices and slashing treatment costs by about 70%.

The patent for semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo's drugs, expired in India last week, paving the way for drugmakers to flood the market with dozens of brands.

Analysts expect more than 40 Indian drugmakers to launch over 50 cheaper variants.

Large Indian drugmakers are racing to capture a share of the global obesity market, projected to be worth about $100 billion by the end of the decade. They are eyeing overseas markets, including Canada, Brazil, Latin America, and Turkey, for future launches.

Here is a list of Indian drugmakers that have launched generic semaglutide in recent days:

SUN PHARMACEUTICAL SUN.NS

India's largest drugmaker by revenue launched semaglutide injectable under the brand name Noveltreat for chronic weight management in five dose strengths from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg and Sematrinity in two dose strengths for type 2 diabetes. Noveltreat is expected to cost around 900 to 2000 rupees ($9.58-$21.30) for weekly treatment, and Sematrinity will cost 750 to 1300 rupees ($7.99-$13.84), the company said.

DR REDDY'S LABORATORIES REDY.NS

The Hyderabad-based drugmaker launched semaglutide under the brand name Obeda for diabetes in 2 mg and 4 mg dose strengths in a disposable pen device format. Each pen of both strengths will deliver a minimum of four weekly doses and cost about 4200 rupees ($44.73) per month, the company said.

ZYDUS LIFESCIENCES ZYDU.NS

The company launched generic injectable semaglutide under three different brand names- Semaglyn, Mashema, and Alterme - for diabetes and obesity treatment in a reusable pen device. The average monthly cost of the treatment will be approximately 2,200 rupees ($23.43), the company said.

TORRENT PHARMACEUTICALS TORP.NS

The company launched an oral and injectable semaglutide drug under the brand names Sembolic and Semalix. The starting price for the injectable drugs would be 3,999 rupees ($42.59) per month, the company said.

GLENMARK PHARMACEUTICALS GLEN.NS

Glenmark launched injectable semaglutide, branded as GLIPIQ, in vial and pen formats for diabetes treatment. The vial is estimated to cost around 1,300 to 1,760 rupees for a month's usage. ($13.84-$18.74).

ALKEM LABORATORIES ALKE.NS

The company said its semaglutide, launched under three brand names - Semasize, Obesema, and Hepaglide - will be available in a pre-filled disposable injection pen and cost starting at 1,800 rupees ($19.17) per month.

ERIS LIFESCIENCES ERIS.NS

The company launched generic semaglutide in a vial format named 'Sundae.' The starting price for the multi-dose vials is 1,290 rupees ($13.74) per month. Eris is also in partnership with Natco Pharma NATP.NS, which has also launched its own generic semaglutide, for commercial manufacturing of the drug.

($1 = 93.9000 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam; Editing by Rashmi Aich)

(([email protected];))

March 20 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd SUN.NS:

• SUN PHARMA - LAUNCHES ITS SEMAGLUTIDE INJECTION UNDER BRAND NAMES, NOVELTREAT AND SEMATRINITY IN INDIA

• SUN PHARMA - PHARMA LAUNCHES SEMAGLUTIDE INJECTION UNDER NOVELTREAT AND SEMATRINITY IN INDIA

• SUN PHARMA - NOVELTREAT WEEKLY THERAPY COSTS 900 RUPEES-2,000 RUPEES; SEMATRINITY 750 RUPEES-1,300 RUPEES

• SUN PHARMA - SEMATRINITY IS AVAILABLE IN TWO DOSE STRENGTHS - 2 MG/1.5 ML AND 4 MG/3 ML

• SUN PHARMA: NOVELTREAT IS AVAILABLE IN FIVE DOSE STRENGTHS 0.25 MG/0.5 ML, 0.5 MG/0.5 ML, 1 MG/0.5 ML, 1.7 MG/0.75 ML, AND 2.4 MG/0.75 ML

Source text: ID:nBSE3g9RJQ

Further company coverage: SUN.NS

(([email protected];))

By Rishika Sadam

HYDERABAD, March 19 (Reuters) - India's market for diabetes and weight-loss drugs is set for a shake-up as Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk's NOVOb.CO patent on semaglutide expires this week, triggering a wave of cheaper generics from local drugmakers and worries about uneven oversight in an overcrowded market.

More than 40 Indian firms are expected to launch over 50 brands within weeks, analysts and doctors said, widening access in a price-sensitive market, but also raising concerns about misuse and confusion among prescribers as costs fall sharply.

Sun Pharma SUN.NS, Mankind Pharma MNKI.NS, Dr. Reddy's REDY.NS, Zydus ZYDU.NS, Lupin LUPN.NS and Alkem ALKE.NS are among the companies expected to launch generic versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo's diabetes drug Ozempic and weight-loss treatment Wegovy.

"With high demand, falling prices and multiple brands, you may see direct pharmacy purchases, distributor-level leakages, or cosmetic or lifestyle use especially in urban markets," said Salil Kallianpur, an independent analyst.

"This could lead to misuse, poor titration and unmanaged side effects and eventually regulatory tightening."

India's drug regulator did not respond to a request for comment. Semaglutide is a prescription drug, but enforcement in India has often been uneven, with doctors and pharmacists playing a key gatekeeping role.

The entry of generics will also challenge Novo and U.S. rival Eli Lilly LLY.N, which launched blockbuster diabetes and obesity drugs in India last year, as they seek to cement their position in the country.

Lilly's Mounjaro became India's top-selling drug by value within months of launch, according to data from Pharmarack, a research firm.

India, the world's most populous nation, has the second-highest number of adults with diabetes after China and could have more than 440 million overweight or obese people by 2050, according to The Lancet, a medical journal, and the International Diabetes Federation.

India's obesity drug market could grow to 80 billion rupees ($856.6 million) by 2030 from about 15 billion rupees today, according to Pharmarack estimates.

EYES ON THE PRICE

Indian generic drugmakers, known globally for producing low-cost medicines, are expected to price their generics at discounts of at least 50% to 60%.

Analysts say monthly prices for the lowest dose could fall from about 11,000 rupees to 3,000 to 5,000 rupees as early generics arrive and eventually to around 1,500 to 2,500 rupees, expanding access beyond a niche urban elite.

"I will consult my doctor to check if I can move to using a generic version, as that appears to be lighter on the pocket," said 32-year-old Vishal, a tech worker from Hyderabad, who is considering a switch from Wegovy.

Many other patients in India's out-of-pocket market have also begun enquiring about cheaper options, some of which are expected to launch as soon as Saturday, the day after Novo's patent expires.

"The price range being quoted is broadly 2,500 to 3,500 rupees, which is quite low," said bariatric surgeon Venugopal Pareek. Six of his patients are waiting for generic versions to switch from Novo or Lilly drugs.

Lower prices are expected to expand the patient pool.

"Onboarding of patients from lower economic strata may happen on branded generics," said Sheetal Sapale, commercial vice president at Pharmarack, noting that company profits would depend on pricing discipline.

Novo and Lilly did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for a comment.

DOCTORS' CHOICE

Even as prices fall, analysts say the winner in the market will depend not just on cost, but also on doctor confidence.

India's pharmaceutical market is heavily driven by physician prescriptions and uptake will depend on doctors' familiarity and confidence in individual brands.

An initial glut of products is likely to overwhelm prescribers, analysts said, with uneven experiences and aggressive marketing.

Many generic drugmakers are opting for brand names that incorporate "sema," which could also add to confusion.

Over time, analysts expect doctors' trust to consolidate around a handful of players offering reliable supply, quality delivery devices and consistent outcomes.

"Weaker players with poor quality and no differentiation will likely exit within two to three years," Kallianpur said.

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam; Editing by Dhanya Skariachan and Thomas Derpinghaus)

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March 16 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd SUN.NS:

• SUN PHARMA ANNOUNCES US FDA ACCEPTANCE OF SUPPLEMENTAL BIOLOGICS LICENSE (SBLA) APPLICATION FOR ILUMYA® (TILDRAKIZUMAB-ASMN) FOR THE TREATMENT OF ADULTS WITH ACTIVE PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

• SUN PHARMA - FDA REGULATORY ACTION DATE FOR ILUMYA SBLA EXPECTED BY OCTOBER 29, 2026

Source text: ID:nPn7NWHdSa

Further company coverage: SUN.NS

(((([email protected];));))

Repeats story from 13th Feburary with no changes to text

By Rishika Sadam

Feb 16 (Reuters) - Biocon BION.NS is aiming for high-double-digit percentage revenue growth as the Indian pharmaceutical firm prepares to launch generic versions of weight-loss drugs globally even as it remains cautious about an early rollout in the home market, a top company executive told Reuters.

The company is counting on demand for obesity medicines as it expands a pipeline that includes copycat versions of Novo Nordisk's NOVOb.CO Wegovy, whose patent for semaglutide in a few markets expires in 2026.

Indian drugmakers, including Dr Reddy's REDY.NS, Lupin LUPN.NS, Sun Pharmaceutical SUN.NS and at least half a dozen others are racing to bring cheaper copies to markets once the active compound goes off patent.

Bengaluru-based Biocon is targeting a U.S. launch of generic liraglutide in the first quarter of the next financial year, CEO Siddharth Mittal said in an interview on Friday. Liraglutide is also used for obesity treatment.

It aims to launch generic Wegovy in Canada next year, subject to regulatory approval, Mittal said. It is also planning launches over the next few years in India, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, and parts of the Middle East and Latin America.

The company, however, is cautious about an early start in India due to fierce price competition and local clinical trial requirements, Mittal said.

"There's going to be fierce competition in India," Mittal said, citing low price expectations. He said Biocon is exploring approval in a specific overseas market first, which could help it seek a clinical trial waiver in India under local rules.

In India, Biocon would need to run a late-stage clinical trial before launch. The company is weighing whether that cost would be justified, Mittal said, or whether it should seek a waiver.

The obesity medicines market, according to several forecasts, is expected to reach at least $150 billion globally by the early 2030s, and analysts expect generic versions to be priced at least 60% below the originator products.

Biocon expects high double-digit percentage revenue growth, Mittal said. The company's annual revenue grew 5.4% in fiscal 2025 from a year ago, but it has been growing in early double-digits on a quarter-on-quarter basis.

India is not Biocon's main market. The company derives significant share of revenue from the United States and parts of Europe.

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

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By Rishika Sadam

Feb 13 (Reuters) - Biocon BION.NS is aiming for high-double-digit percentage revenue growth as the Indian pharmaceutical firm prepares to launch generic versions of weight-loss drugs globally even as it remains cautious about an early rollout in the home market, a top company executive told Reuters.

The company is counting on demand for obesity medicines as it expands a pipeline that includes copycat versions of Novo Nordisk's NOVOb.CO Wegovy, whose patent for semaglutide in a few markets expires in 2026.

Indian drugmakers, including Dr Reddy's REDY.NS, Lupin LUPN.NS, Sun Pharmaceutical SUN.NS and at least half a dozen others are racing to bring cheaper copies to markets once the active compound goes off patent.

Bengaluru-based Biocon is targeting a U.S. launch of generic liraglutide in the first quarter of the next financial year, CEO Siddharth Mittal said in an interview on Friday. Liraglutide is also used for obesity treatment.

It aims to launch generic Wegovy in Canada next year, subject to regulatory approval, Mittal said. It is also planning launches over the next few years in India, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, and parts of the Middle East and Latin America.

The company, however, is cautious about an early start in India due to fierce price competition and local clinical trial requirements, Mittal said.

"There's going to be fierce competition in India," Mittal said, citing low price expectations. He said Biocon is exploring approval in a specific overseas market first, which could help it seek a clinical trial waiver in India under local rules.

In India, Biocon would need to run a late-stage clinical trial before launch. The company is weighing whether that cost would be justified, Mittal said, or whether it should seek a waiver.

The obesity medicines market, according to several forecasts, is expected to reach at least $150 billion globally by the early 2030s, and analysts expect generic versions to be priced at least 60% below the originator products.

Biocon expects high double-digit percentage revenue growth, Mittal said. The company's annual revenue grew 5.4% in fiscal 2025 from a year ago, but it has been growing in early double-digits on a quarter-on-quarter basis.

India is not Biocon's main market. The company derives significant share of revenue from the United States and parts of Europe.

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

(([email protected];))

SHANGHAI, Jan 27 (Reuters) - China's medicine regulator has ordered a halt to the import, sale and usage of a drug used to treat dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease made by India's Sun Pharmaceutical Industries SUN.NS, according to an announcement posted on Monday.

The National Medical Products Administration said a recent remote inspection found shortcomings in the company's production processes, including in the prevention of contamination and the quality management department's fulfillment of duties.

The body banned the sale of Sun Pharma's rivastigmine hydrogen tartrate capsules.

A spokesperson for Sun Pharma, India's largest drugmaker by revenue, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter to Sun Pharma alleging "significant violations" of "current good manufacturing practice" regulations for pharmaceuticals made at the same production site in India, according to the U.S. regulator's website.

Rivastigmine capsules have been used as a dementia treatment in China, one study showed.

(Reporting by Andrew Silver; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus)

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Rewrites to add new information throughout

By Rishika Sadam and Kashish Tandon

Jan 23 (Reuters) - Indian drugmakers Sun Pharmaceutical Industries SUN.NS, Zydus Lifesciences ZYDU.NS and Alkem Laboratories ALKE.NS have received approval from India's regulator to manufacture and sell generic versions of blockbuster weight-loss and diabetes drugs Wegovy and Ozempic.

Data on the regulator's website show Zydus Lifesciences ZYDU.NS and Alkem Laboratories ALKE.NS received approval last week to manufacture and sell generic semaglutide for weight-loss and diabetes treatment, intensifying competition in the obesity-drug race in the world's most populous nation.

The companies, which are yet to announce the approval, did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for a comment.

Sun Pharma, which is India's largest drugmaker by revenue, on Friday announced that it had been granted approval and would be launching generics under brand names Noveltreat for obesity and Sematrinity for diabetes.

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk's NOVOb.CO Wegovy and its diabetes drug Ozempic, is set for patent expiry in March 2026.

The upcoming patent expiry for semaglutide opens the door for Indian generic drugmakers to enter the weight-loss market with cheaper versions of both Wegovy and Ozempic at steep discounts.

Last year, U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly LLY.N launched Mounjaro in India, while Novo introduced Wegovy and Ozempic. Sales of the innovator drugs doubled shortly after launch.

The global weight-loss drug market is projected to reach $150 billion by the end of the decade.

Ozempic, though mainly approved for type 2 diabetes, is also used off-label for weight loss due to its appetite-suppressing effects.

Earlier this week, Dr Reddy's Laboratories REDY.NS said it had obtained approval to sell the generic version of Ozempic.

"The generic players will come in with lower prices and expand the number of people they can reach out to given their aggressive marketing strategy," said Vishal Manchanda, an analyst with Systematix Institutional Equities, adding that there are at least a dozen other generic companies awaiting approvals.

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam in Hyderabad and Kashish Tandon in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Tasim Zahid)

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Jan 19 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd SUN.NS:

• SUN PHARMA - STATES ORGANON ACQUISITION NEWS IS SPECULATIVE

Source text: ID:nBSE9W7LSZ

Further company coverage: SUN.NS

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The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are her own. Refiles to change editing credits.

By Shrabani Chakraborty

BENGALURU, Jan 9 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Novo Nordisk NOVOb.CO is fuelling an obesity drug war in India. Last month, the $229 billion Danish drugmaker launched its blockbuster remedy Ozempic into the world’s fifth-largest economy. The once-weekly jab costs a mere 8,800 rupees ($97.94) per month, a staggering discount compared to the U.S. where the same prescription can cost nearly $500. Competition from arch rival Eli Lilly LLY.N and a looming patent cliff will play out on a larger scale in the U.S. in the coming years.

India's obesity levels are rising sharply. In the past three decades, urbanisation encouraged more sedentary lifestyles and diets have shifted towards ultra-processed foods. By 2022, about 24% of India’s population was classified as either overweight or obese, and the situation is expected to get worse. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described obesity as a “silent crisis” and reckoned that it could affect nearly 440 million Indians by 2050, or around a third of today's 1.4 billion population. To tackle the problem, he urged families to cut 10% of cooking oil use and adopt regular exercise.

This healthcare dilemma, however, has created an opportunity for obesity drug giants. In the past year, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have launched Mounjaro and Wegovy, respectively, in the Indian market. But a price war escalated quickly. In March 2025, Mounjaro began selling its injectable drug at 14,000–17,500 rupees per month. Novo Nordisk then followed with Wegovy in June at 10,850 rupees per month. As these drugs gained popularity, Ozempic debuted in December 2025 at 8,800 rupees per month, positioning itself as the most affordable option in India.

This pricing strategy is about fending off competition from all angles. Generic drugmakers like Dr. Reddy's REDY.NS and Sun Pharma SUN.NS are scrambling to develop copycat versions of Novo's drugs once the key patent expires in March 2026. But if the Danish group’s drugs are also ultra cheap, the generic rivals are unlikely to take much market share.

Novo may need to adopt a similar strategy in the U.S. In 2031, the patent on the key ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy will expire, which is likely to trigger intense competition from generic drugmakers. According to Visible Alpha data, Novo Nordisk's revenue will dip 0.33% in 2032 and 1.95% in 2033. But if an India-style price war breaks out, the sales decline may be much more dramatic. Investors have good reason to use India’s weight-loss drug showdown as a warning, not an outlier.

Follow Shrabani Chakraborty on X and LinkedIn.

CONTEXT NEWS

Novo Nordisk launched Ozempic in India on December 12, pricing the 0.25 mg dose at $24.35 per week.

Ozempic will be sold in pen format in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg doses, with each pen covering four weekly doses.

Monthly prices are 8,800 rupees for 0.25 mg, 10,170 rupees for 0.5 mg and 11,175 rupees for 1 mg doses.

(Editing by Aimee Donnellan; Production by Aditya Srivastav)

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Nov 12 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd SUN.NS:

• ONCE WEEKLY UTREGLUTIDE DOSING FOR TEN WEEKS SHOWED BODY WEIGHT LOSS OF 6.8%

Source text: ID:nnAZN4QQBQK

Further company coverage: SUN.NS

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This is an excerpt of the Health Rounds newsletter, where we present latest medical studies on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To receive the full newsletter in your inbox for free sign up here

By Nancy Lapid

Sept 3 (Reuters) - The commonly prescribed blood thinner clopidogrel should replace aspirin as a routine pill for preventing heart attacks and strokes in people who already have at least some degree of heart disease, researchers reported at the European Society of Cardiology Congress.

Pooled data on nearly 29,000 patients with coronary artery disease who had participated in seven earlier randomized trials showed that those taking clopidogrel had a 14% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death, compared to those taking aspirin, during an average follow-up of 5.5 years.

“These results suggest that clopidogrel should be considered the preferred long-term antiplatelet medication for patients with established coronary artery disease,” the researchers said.

Clopidogrel is the generic name of the widely used blood clot preventer Plavix, sold by Bristol Myers Squibb BMY.N and Sanofi SASY.PA. Several companies sell generic clopidogrel including Aurobindo Pharma ARBN.NS, Sun Pharma SUN.NS and Teva Pharmaceuticals TEVA.TA.

Rates of anticoagulant-related side effects like ulcers and major bleeding were similar between the two drugs, dispelling concerns that clopidogrel might lead to more bleeding complications, the researchers said.

The researchers said their analysis included many types of patients and subgroups to ensure the findings, which were also published in The Lancet, applied broadly.

“Even patients who might respond less well to clopidogrel due to genetic or clinical factors still benefited from its use over aspirin,” the researchers said in a statement.

Because clopidogrel is widely available and inexpensive, the study’s findings have the potential to influence clinical guidelines worldwide and improve patient outcomes, the researchers said.

RECYCLED PACEMAKERS IMPROVE ACCESS IN LOW-INCOME NATIONS

Cardiac pacemaker devices can be reconditioned to provide new hope for patients in low- and middle-income countries, researchers said at the ESC meeting in Madrid.

In Kenya, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Paraguay, Sierra Leone and Venezuela, 306 patients with a life expectancy of at least two years, a clear medical need for pacemaker therapy and no financial means to acquire one were randomly assigned to receive a reconditioned pacemaker or a new pacemaker.

The researchers’ primary concern was that reconditioned devices, which had been removed from other patients, might transmit infections when re-implanted.

A year after the pacemakers were implanted, the incidence of procedure-related infections was 1.6% for those in the reconditioned pacemaker group and 3.1% for those who got new devices. The results demonstrate that the older devices were non-inferior to new ones, the researchers said in a statement.

There were no device malfunctions in either group.

The study was conducted by doctors at the University of Michigan-based Project My Heart Your Heart, which collects pacemakers removed from cadavers by funeral directors.

“Patients in many low- and middle-income countries still have very limited access to cardiac pacing despite its routine use in higher-income countries,” study leader Dr. Thomas Crawford from the University of Michigan said in a statement.

“Indeed, access to pacemaker implantation is around 200-fold lower in Africa than in Europe," Crawford said.

Project My Heart Your Heart developed a comprehensive protocol for cleaning, functional testing and sterilizing reconditioned devices, and has U.S. approval for their export to countries whose governments have provided permission for pacemaker importation, he added.

(To receive the full newsletter in your inbox for free sign up here)

(Reporting by Nancy Lapid; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

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Health Rounds is published on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Think your friend or colleague should know about us? Forward this newsletter to them. They can also subscribe here

By Nancy Lapid

Sept 2 (Reuters) - Hello Health Rounds readers! Today we highlight two studies presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Madrid, one that compared widely used blood thinners for preventing serious heart problems, and one that tested the safety of reusing cardiac pacemakers.

Clopidogrel tops aspirin for routine use in heart patients

The commonly prescribed blood thinner clopidogrel should replace aspirin as a routine pill for preventing heart attacks and strokes in people who already have at least some degree of heart disease, researchers reported at the European Society of Cardiology Congress.

Pooled data on nearly 29,000 patients with coronary artery disease who had participated in seven earlier randomized trials showed that those taking clopidogrel had a 14% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death, compared to those taking aspirin, during an average follow-up of 5.5 years.

“These results suggest that clopidogrel should be considered the preferred long-term antiplatelet medication for patients with established coronary artery disease,” the researchers said.

Clopidogrel is the generic name of the widely used blood clot preventer Plavix, sold by Bristol Myers Squibb BMY.N and Sanofi SASY.PA. Several companies sell generic clopidogrel including Aurobindo Pharma ARBN.NS, Sun Pharma SUN.NS and Teva Pharmaceuticals TEVA.TA.

Rates of anticoagulant-related side effects like ulcers and major bleeding were similar between the two drugs, dispelling concerns that clopidogrel might lead to more bleeding complications, the researchers said.

The researchers said their analysis included many types of patients and subgroups to ensure the findings, which were also published in The Lancet, applied broadly.

“Even patients who might respond less well to clopidogrel due to genetic or clinical factors still benefited from its use over aspirin,” the researchers said in a statement.

Because clopidogrel is widely available and inexpensive, the study’s findings have the potential to influence clinical guidelines worldwide and improve patient outcomes, the researchers said.

Recycled pacemakers improve access in low-income nations

Cardiac pacemaker devices can be reconditioned to provide new hope for patients in low- and middle-income countries, researchers said at the ESC meeting in Madrid.

In Kenya, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Paraguay, Sierra Leone and Venezuela, 306 patients with a life expectancy of at least two years, a clear medical need for pacemaker therapy and no financial means to acquire one were randomly assigned to receive a reconditioned pacemaker or a new pacemaker.

The researchers’ primary concern was that reconditioned devices, which had been removed from other patients, might transmit infections when re-implanted.

A year after the pacemakers were implanted, the incidence of procedure-related infections was 1.6% for those in the reconditioned pacemaker group and 3.1% for those who got new devices. The results demonstrate that the older devices were non-inferior to new ones, the researchers said in a statement.

There were no device malfunctions in either group.

The study was conducted by doctors at the University of Michigan-based Project My Heart Your Heart, which collects pacemakers removed from cadavers by funeral directors.

“Patients in many low- and middle-income countries still have very limited access to cardiac pacing despite its routine use in higher-income countries,” study leader Dr. Thomas Crawford from the University of Michigan said in a statement.

“Indeed, access to pacemaker implantation is around 200-fold lower in Africa than in Europe," Crawford said.

Project My Heart Your Heart developed a comprehensive protocol for cleaning, functional testing and sterilizing reconditioned devices, and has U.S. approval for their export to countries whose governments have provided permission for pacemaker importation, he added.

(Reporting by Nancy Lapid; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

(([email protected]))

By Nancy Lapid

Aug 30 (Reuters) - A decades-old pill remains helpful for heart attack patients even with modern treatments that can prevent lasting damage to heart muscle, two large trials have shown.

Still unclear is whether all patients, or only some, benefit from so-called beta-blocker drugs, which are typically prescribed to everyone after a heart attack.

Two sharply contradictory reports were presented on Saturday at a large cardiology meeting in Madrid and published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

“It is not unusual for trials to yield different results,” said Dr. Borja Ibanez of Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III in Madrid, who led one of the trials.

“Somewhat uncommon is to see two trials with apparently divergent findings presented on the same day.”

Most important, Ibanez said, is the finding both teams agree on, which is that beta-blockers reduce the combined risk of another heart attack, heart failure, or death in patients without heart failure but with mildly impaired heart function.

The question is whether the pills are beneficial or useless for those with normally functioning hearts, who account for about 80% of patients after a first heart attack.

Beta-blocker manufacturers include Mylan, Novartis NOVN.S, Pfizer PFE.N, Abbott, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries TEVA.TA, Amneal Pharmaceuticals AMRX.O, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries SUN.NS, Lupin, ANI Pharmaceuticals ANIP.O, and Eagle Pharmaceuticals EGRX.PK.

The drugs work by inhibiting the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine, thereby lowering heart rate and blood pressure, decreasing the workload on the heart and reducing its oxygen demand.

Both new trials involved heart attack survivors whose hearts were still contracting normally, that is, the left ventricle was pumping out at least 40% of its blood with each beat. Both trials followed patients for roughly 3.5 years.

Among 5,574 volunteers in the BETAMI–DANBLOCK study from Norway and Denmark, the drugs showed a clear benefit. Patients randomly assigned to receive beta-blockers had a 15% lower risk of death or major adverse cardiovascular event, particularly a repeat heart attack, compared to patients not taking these pills, investigators found.

But among the 8,438 participants in the REBOOT trial conducted in Italy and Spain, beta-blockers had no effect on the incidence of death from any cause, a repeat heart attack, or hospitalization for heart failure, according to a separate report.

Some of the difference may be due to the fact that patients didn't all receive the same beta-blockers, and the Scandinavian patients might have been more prone to adverse events because they were slightly older than patients in Spain and Italy and more of them had mild heart dysfunction, said Dr. Dan Atar of the University of Oslo, who led one of the trials.

Among female participants in REBOOT, those taking beta-blockers - particularly those with good heart function receiving higher doses – had more adverse outcomes than women not taking the drugs, researchers reported in the European Heart Journal.

In REBOOT, researchers did see a lower rate of new heart attacks, heart failure, or death with beta-blocker use by patients with mildly reduced heart function, as indicated by a left ventricular “ejection fraction” between 40% and 49%.

The effect in this subgroup was confirmed in an analysis of data pooled from REBOOT, BETAMI–DANBLOCK, and a Japanese trial, according to a report published in The Lancet.

The message for cardiologists, Ibanez said, is “We can now state with confidence that beta-blockers are beneficial” in patients with mildly impaired heart function, and “there remains reasonable uncertainty about their benefit” in patients with normally functioning hearts.

Atar said an analysis looking specifically at beta-blocker use by patients with normal heart function will be presented at a U.S. cardiology meeting in November.

(Reporting by Nancy Lapid; editing by Caroline Humer and Diane Craft)

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Adds details paragraph 3 onwards

July 31 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries SUN.NS, India's largest drugmaker by revenue, reported a higher adjusted profit on Thursday, aided by strong domestic sales.

The Mumbai-based firm's consolidated profit before tax and exceptional items rose 16.6% to 39.91 billion rupees ($455.6 million) in the quarter ended June 30.

The drugmaker reported a one-time charge of 8.18 billion rupees in the first quarter related to the impairment of certain assets and the settlement of a legal dispute.

Accounting for the charge, profit fell nearly 20% on-year.

Total revenue grew 9.5% to 138.51 billion rupees, beating analysts' estimates of 136.51 billion rupees. The rise in revenue was supported by a 14% increase in sales in India, Sun Pharma's largest revenue-generating region.

The firm has been focusing on strengthening its portfolio of innovative drugs in dermatology, oncology and obesity therapy areas as it targets mid-to-high single-digit percentage revenue growth in the current fiscal year.

Sales from its high-margin global innovative segment, which includes drugs used to treat rare and complex chronic conditions such as hair loss and psoriasis, rose 16.9% and accounted for 19.3% of the total.

Its U.S. sales climbed 4% to 40.45 billion rupees. While India's generic drugmakers derive a significant share of revenue from the United States, pricing pressures due to stiff competition continue to weigh on profit margins.

($1 = 87.6000 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam in Hyderabad and Kashish Tandon in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema)

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July 21 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd SUN.NS:

• SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LTD - ILUMYA STUDIES MEET PRIMARY ENDPOINT IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

• SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LTD - ILUMYA SHOWS SIGNIFICANT ACR20 IMPROVEMENTS AT WEEK 24

• SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LTD - RESULTS SUPPORT POTENTIAL US SUBMISSION FOR ILUMYA IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

Source text: ID:nBSE56mL6Z

Further company coverage: SUN.NS

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