Indian patients no longer have to wait for the drug to become generic. Recently BMS and Astra Zeneca launched their new oral pill Saxagliptin (DDP 4 inhibitors ) to treat type 2 diabetes in India, less than one year after its US approval. India is the first Asian country where the drug is available at an affordable price which is 1/5 of its US cost.
Pharma Companies now realize that there is tremendous opportunity in emerging markets, not only because they entail low operating costs but also because of the fast-growing middle-class population; they are emerging as a huge market for global products. As the economy grows lifestyle associated diseases grow along with it. Therefore companies try to launch drugs for these lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes. Forecasts suggest 50% of business will be in those markets by 2020. Acquisition of Daichi to Ranbaxy and Abbot by Piramals makes it clear that big pharma companies want to make a strong market presence in India.
“Rather than trying to find a use for approved medicines that were developed for a non-Asian phenotype, the move is to discover and develop medicines specifically to treat Asian diseases,” explains Paul Bolno, VP of Oncology R&D, Business Development at GSK. Here is a Nature article
However, it will take a long time for the local doctors here in India to stop giving the pills without any label and any expiry dates on them. (pic; a local hospital gave me these medicines for a mild fever, you have to remember the tablets by its color).
