Mumbai: Sanofi India has started the process of selling its flagship insulin brand, Lantus, with major domestic pharmaceutical companies such as Glenmark, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, and Emcure Pharma reportedly in talks to acquire it, people familiar with the matter told ET. The French pharmaceutical giant has set a minimum price of ₹2,000 crore, a sharp reduction from its initial asking price of about ₹3,000 crore, they said.
A spokesperson for Sanofi India said: "We do not comment on speculation." Dr. Reddy's, Glenmark and Emcure did not respond to queries.
The deal, if it goes through, would catapult Lantus to India's most valuable pharma brand.
The people cited above, however, said if there is insufficient bidder interest, Sanofi might instead pursue a licensing agreement with drug makers, similar to what it has done in the past.
Prescribed extensively to diabetes patients, Lantus has built a strong reputation, making it the market leader for about two decades.
Newer Insulin Options a Threat
While it remains a key revenue contributor for Sanofi in India, Lantus' sales have been sliding in recent years.
Additionally, a 21% price reduction mandated by the government in 2023 has squeezed margins. Also, insulins are getting better every year, and some - like a once-a-week drug - may further erode Lantus' market share. However, Lantus continues to far outsell many of its rival brands.
India's pharmaceutical market is expanding rapidly, driven by over 100 million diabetes patients, making strong brands highly sought-after among drugmakers.
For Sanofi, the decision to sell Lantus could be part of a broader strategy to focus on bringing its patented drugs to India, and growing Opella-its consumer healthcare business.
Sanofi has of late been making brisk moves in India. Last year, it launched Soliqua, a mix of insulin glargine and lixisenatide, a drug that mimics the GLP-1 hormone to help control sugar and lose weight. The pharma giant also forged partnerships with several firms, including Emcure for the distribution of its cardiovascular drugs, Dr. Reddy's for vaccines, and Cipla for neurology products.
Lantus clocked sales of ₹426 crore on a moving annual turnover (MAT) basis for the 12 months through February 2025, according to industry tracker and market researcher PharmaTrac. This marks a decline from ₹588 crore in the same period in 2022. Sales would have been much higher if institutional sales and government supplies were also included, a person said.
Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk leads the domestic market for insulins, with as many as six out of the top ten brands sold in India. The Indian market for insulins-split into a spectrum of brands-is just over ₹4,500 crore, and is growing at 6% annually.
Part of a category known as insulin glargine, Lantus has a unique positioning due to its long-acting effect which only requires one shot daily. This gives it an edge over other old insulin types that are needed before meals or twice during the day, making it a sought-after brand.
The second-most sold brand of insulin glargine in India is Toujeo, also from the Sanofi stable but with a higher concentration of the dose. Toujeo recorded sales of ₹140 crore this February on a MAT basis. Among Indian drugs, Lantus' rival is Basalog, a brand Eris Pharma acquired last year as part of a broader deal with Biocon Biologics.
A spokesperson for Sanofi India said: "We do not comment on speculation." Dr. Reddy's, Glenmark and Emcure did not respond to queries.
The deal, if it goes through, would catapult Lantus to India's most valuable pharma brand.
The people cited above, however, said if there is insufficient bidder interest, Sanofi might instead pursue a licensing agreement with drug makers, similar to what it has done in the past.
Prescribed extensively to diabetes patients, Lantus has built a strong reputation, making it the market leader for about two decades.
Newer Insulin Options a Threat
While it remains a key revenue contributor for Sanofi in India, Lantus' sales have been sliding in recent years.
Additionally, a 21% price reduction mandated by the government in 2023 has squeezed margins. Also, insulins are getting better every year, and some - like a once-a-week drug - may further erode Lantus' market share. However, Lantus continues to far outsell many of its rival brands.
India's pharmaceutical market is expanding rapidly, driven by over 100 million diabetes patients, making strong brands highly sought-after among drugmakers.
For Sanofi, the decision to sell Lantus could be part of a broader strategy to focus on bringing its patented drugs to India, and growing Opella-its consumer healthcare business.
Sanofi has of late been making brisk moves in India. Last year, it launched Soliqua, a mix of insulin glargine and lixisenatide, a drug that mimics the GLP-1 hormone to help control sugar and lose weight. The pharma giant also forged partnerships with several firms, including Emcure for the distribution of its cardiovascular drugs, Dr. Reddy's for vaccines, and Cipla for neurology products.
Lantus clocked sales of ₹426 crore on a moving annual turnover (MAT) basis for the 12 months through February 2025, according to industry tracker and market researcher PharmaTrac. This marks a decline from ₹588 crore in the same period in 2022. Sales would have been much higher if institutional sales and government supplies were also included, a person said.
Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk leads the domestic market for insulins, with as many as six out of the top ten brands sold in India. The Indian market for insulins-split into a spectrum of brands-is just over ₹4,500 crore, and is growing at 6% annually.
Part of a category known as insulin glargine, Lantus has a unique positioning due to its long-acting effect which only requires one shot daily. This gives it an edge over other old insulin types that are needed before meals or twice during the day, making it a sought-after brand.
The second-most sold brand of insulin glargine in India is Toujeo, also from the Sanofi stable but with a higher concentration of the dose. Toujeo recorded sales of ₹140 crore this February on a MAT basis. Among Indian drugs, Lantus' rival is Basalog, a brand Eris Pharma acquired last year as part of a broader deal with Biocon Biologics.
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