Peptide diabetes drugs to be made in India under PLI: DOP

Popular peptide drugs for diabetes and obesity — Glucagon-like peptide receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) — will be manufactured in India under the production linked incentive (PLI) scheme from 2026 when the patents expire, a senior government official said on Thursday.

GLP-1RA works by activating GLP-1 receptors in the pancreas, which leads to enhanced insulin release and reduced glucagon release responses.

Speaking to the media, Arunish Chawla, secretary, department of pharmaceuticals (DOP), said that the local pharmaceutical industry is already working on producing these drugs here after the patents expire around 2026. Without divulging details of which companies are working on it (citing competition sensitivity), Chawla said work has already begun on the same and soon GLP-1RA drugs would be made in India under the PLI scheme. Clinical trials of these drugs have shown to lower glycaemic parameters and promote weight loss. In 2022, the market size of GLP-1RA was evaluated to be around $22.4 billion globally.

It is anticipated to exhibit sustainable growth at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of around 9.6 per cent till 2032.

Chawla also added that 300 drugs are slated to lose patent in the next five years globally, and of these around 24 are blockbuster drugs. India is trying to make the most of this opportunity and the PLI scheme would play a part.

Moreover, for bulk drugs and intermediates, he said 50 such molecules were identified under the PLI and 40 projects were taken up.

Out of these, 30 projects are complete, which have also started manufacturing 30 molecules.

Meanwhile, to boost pharma research and innovation, DOP is setting up a project monitoring unit to identify projects that have a proof of concept and can be eligible for disbursement under the Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma Medtech Sector (PRIP) scheme.