Abbott to Market MSD’s Sitagliptin Brands in India Targeting 20 Percent of Diabetes Market

Abbott, India’s second-largest drug seller, has partnered with MSD (Merck) to distribute its Sitagliptin brands, including Januvia, Janumet, and Janumet XR, across India. These medicines are essential treatments for type-2 diabetes and are part of a strategic effort to address the country’s growing diabetes burden.

Sitagliptin is a DPP-4 inhibitor, a drug class that blocks the enzyme breaking down incretin hormones like GLP-1 and GIP, which help regulate blood sugar by stimulating insulin production and reducing glucose production in the liver. This innovative, once-daily treatment is widely available in both branded and generic forms.

In 2024, MSD’s Januvia and Janumet achieved global sales of $2.2 billion. The drugs were first launched in India in 2008 under the names Istavel and Istamet through a licensing agreement with Sun Pharma. Following the patent expiration in July 2022, Sun Pharma and other generic manufacturers began marketing their versions of the drug, making it more accessible.

India, which has one of the highest populations of type-2 diabetes patients, sees DPP-4 inhibitors accounting for 20% of the ₹20,936 crore anti-diabetic market, with MSD brands holding a significant share. The Indian government has also supported affordability through Jan-aushadhi Kendras, where generic Sitagliptin tablets cost as little as ₹60 for 50 mg and ₹100 for 100 mg per pack of ten tablets.

Rehan A. Khan, Managing Director of MSD India, emphasized that the Abbott partnership creates a sustainable business model to serve patients nationwide. Abbott’s Vice President for India, Ambati Venu, highlighted the company’s commitment to tackling non-communicable diseases, which significantly burden India’s healthcare system.

This collaboration positions Abbott and MSD to strengthen their role in addressing India’s diabetes epidemic, leveraging innovation and affordability to improve patient outcomes.