Sun Pharma Inks Pact with Germany’s Bayer to Sell Drug for Chronic Kidney Disease

This partnership, according to her, aligns with Sun Pharma’s goal to make innovative medicines available to patients in India

Global pharmaceutical player, Sun Pharma has inked a pact with Germany-based Bayer to market and distribute Finerenone, a drug for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in India.

Finerenone, a patented medicine is indicated to reduce the risk of sustained eGFR decline, end-stage kidney disease, cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and hospitalisation for heart failure in adult patients with chronic kidney disease associated with Type-2 diabetes mellitus.

Under the terms of the agreement, Bayer has granted non-exclusive rights to Sun Pharma to market and distribute a second Finerenone product under the brand name Lyvelsa. Additionally, Finerenone was first launched by Bayer under the brand name Kerendia in 2022.

Sharing thoughts, Kirti Ganorkar, CEO, India Business, Sun Pharma said, “We are happy to collaborate with Bayer to provide patients access to a new treatment which slows down the progression of chronic kidney disease and reduces the risk of kidney failure associated with Type-2 diabetes.”

This partnership, according to her, aligns with Sun Pharma’s goal to make innovative medicines available to patients in India.

Decoding Finerenone

Finerenone, a patented medicine, is indicated to reduce the risk of sustained eGFR decline, end-stage kidney disease, cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and hospitalisation for heart failure in adult patients with chronic kidney disease associated with Type-2 diabetes mellitus.

According to the company, the drug differs from the existing treatments as it selectively blocks mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) overactivation, which is said to contribute to CKD progression and cardiovascular damage.

The 2023 American Diabetes Association (ADA) guideline recommends the use of Finerenone for individuals with Type-2 diabetes and CKD with albuminuria treated with the maximum tolerated doses of ACE inhibitors/ARB, aiming to improve cardiovascular outcomes and reduce the risk of CKD progression (level of recommendation A).

On the collaboration, Shweta Rai, country division head, South Asia Business, Bayer Pharmaceutical, said, “India has a high incidence of diabetes and associated renal and cardiac conditions. The true value of innovations like Finerenone can only be fully realised after they reach all deserving patients.”

Established in 1863 by Friedrich Bayer and Johann Friedrich Weskott, Bayer is a global company specialising in healthcare and nutrition. It aims to address challenges posed by a growing and ageing population. In 2021, it employed around 100,000 people, had sales of 44.1 billion euros, and spent 5.3 billion euros on R&D.

Growing Threat of Chronic Kidney Disease

The ICKD study highlights diabetes as the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease in India. According to the 2020 report, out of 4,056 enrolled patients, the average age was 50.3 years, with 67.2% being males.

A significant portion had comorbidities, with 87% being hypertensive, 37% having diabetes, 22% experiencing cardiovascular disease (CVD), and 23% reporting prior use of alternative drugs.

India faces an epidemic with over 100 million people suffering from diabetes, ranking second globally after China. Despite available treatments, many patients with both CKD and Type-2 diabetes progress to kidney failure and face premature death.

Founded in 1983, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, also known as Sun Pharma, is an Indian multinational pharmaceutical company that manufactures and sells pharmaceutical formulations and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in more than 100 countries across the globe.

Further, it aims to promote excellence through strategic innovation, supported by strong R&D capabilities that include about 2,000 scientists and R&D spending of more than 7-8% of annual revenues.

In October, Sun Pharmaceutical inked a licencing agreement with Zydus Lifesciences Limited to co-market Desidustat, a novel drug, in India. As per the agreement, Zydus granted Sun Pharma semi-exclusive rights to co-market the product in India under the brand name RYTSTAT. While, Zydus has already been marketing this drug since 2022, under the brand name Oxemia and will further continue to market it.