Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., an innovation‐driven, global pharmaceutical company, launched the sacubitril + valsartan tablets in India, for the treatment of heart failure.

Marketed under the brand name ‘Sacu V’, it must be taken twice daily under doctor’s prescription. Its approved indication is to reduce the risk of cardiovascular related deaths and hospitalisations for patients with chronic heart failure (NYHA class II‐IV) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

On the occasion of this launch, Alok Malik, EVP & Business Head ‐ India Formulations, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. said, “Heart failure is growing in India at an alarming rate; its prevalence is about 1% and affects around 8‐10 million individuals. With the launch of Sacu V, we are proud to bring to the patients an advanced and affordable treatment option, which has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalisation and to improve symptoms associated with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).”

The sacubitril‐valsartan combination belongs to the class ARNI (Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor). These molecules have two therapeutic targets in the treatment of heart failure: the natriuretic peptide (NP) system for sacubitril and Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) for valsartan. 

The use of sacubitril + valsartan has an established role in treatment of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and has been endorsed by the latest heart failure treatment guidelines in Europe and the USA.

Glenmark’s Sacu V is priced at Rs. 19 per tablet for a dose of 50 mg (sacubitril 24 mg + valsartan 26 mg), Rs. 35 per tablet for a dose of 100 mg (sacubitril 49 mg + valsartan 51 mg), and Rs. 45 per tablet for a dose of 200 mg (sacubitril 97 mg + valsartan 103 mg).

According to IQVIA sales data (SSA MAT December 2022) for the 12‐month period ending December 2022, the total cardiology market is estimated to be Rs. 20,730 crore; with an annual growth of 7.7% against the corresponding period last year (MAT December 2021). The ARNI market (sacubitril + valsartan) is estimated to be Rs. 514 crore; with an annual growth of 37.2%.