Drug Updates

Sun Pharma to introduce its version of Vortioxetine in India under an exclusive patent license from Lundbeck 

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (Reuters: SUN.BO, Bloomberg: SUNP  IN, NSE: SUNPHARMA, BSE: 524715, Sun Pharma” and includes its subsidiaries and/or associate companies)  today announced that one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries has entered into an exclusive patent licensing  agreement with H. Lundbeck A/S (“Lundbeck”) to market and distribute its own version of Vortioxetine in  India under the brand name, VORTIDIFTM. The territory of the licensing agreement will only cover India. 

Vortioxetine is a novel antidepressant with multimodal activity, which is approved to treat Major Depressive  Disorder (MDD) in adults. The product is approved in over 80 countries1, including the US, EU, Canada and  Australia. 

Kirti Ganorkar, CEO of India Business, Sun Pharma, said, “Sun Pharma is the leader in the neuro-psychiatry  therapy in India and we always endeavour to bring innovative medicines that fill a need gap. MDD is a serious  and complicated disorder and VORTIDIFTM will serve as an important novel treatment option for patients in  India.” 

MDD is one of the leading cause of disability, affecting approximately 246 million people globally2 and 35  million people in India.3 MDD is characterised by pronounced changes in mood coupled with distinct  psychological and vegetative changes, including sleep, appetite disturbance, subjective fatigue, loss of  motivation and drive, ruminative feelings of guilt and despair, problems maintaining mental focus, and suicidal  thinking and behaviour.4 

Sun Pharma is ranked No. 1 by prescriptions and value amongst Neurologists & Psychiatrists in India (IMS  MAT Jan 2022). With a strong product portfolio, Sun Pharma’s CNS division constantly strives to provide  innovative solutions to patients and health care providers in India. 

H. Lundbeck is a global pharmaceutical company specialising in brain diseases. 

TM – All brand names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 

References:  

1. Lundbeck 

2. COVID-19 Mental Disorders Collaborators. Lancet. 2021 Nov 6;398(10312):1700-1712. 

3. Arvind BA, et.al. BMJ Open. 2019 Jun 27;9(6): e027250. 

4. Kelliny M, et.al. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2015;11:1193-1212. Published 2015 Aug 12.

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