Sun Pharma to launch its oral lipid-lowering drug ‘bempedic acid’ in India

Sun Pharma announced on Wednesday that it plans to launch a drug to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

Mumbai-based drug major says a wholly-owned subsidiary plans to launch first-class oral medication, bempedoic acid, in India to lower LDL cholesterol.

The company will launch the drug under the brand name Brilo.

The drug is a first-class drug that has a new mode of action compared to the currently available lipid-lowering agents.

It is indicated for people who have a hereditary genetic disorder that causes high cholesterol levels or established heart disease where cholesterol levels are high despite lifestyle changes and the use of the most tolerable dose of statins.

” Sun Pharma is a leader in cardiovascular disease and a pioneer in lipid-lowering therapy in India. In line with our commitment to launching innovative products, we are launching this first-class oral drug Brillo, “Sun Pharma CEO – India Business Kirti Gankar said in a statement.

The product is a fancy treatment option that will help patients with heart disease manage high LDL cholesterol, a condition that is growing at an alarming rate, he added.

The incidence of heart disease in India is 272 per 100,000 population, more than 235 per 100,000 population worldwide on average.

Some patients with elevated cholesterol levels may respond inadequately to statins. There is also a set of patients who are intolerant to statins. Bempedoic acid may be an effective treatment option for such patients.

The Brillo launch will meet this significant unmet demand in India, the company said.

As per IMS MAT January 2022, the statin market size in India is around Rs 4,300 crore.