Following the expiry of Boehringer Ingelheim's patent on diabetes drug Empagliflozin (Jardiance) on March 11, India’s pharmaceutical market has seen an unprecedented rush, with 71 new generic brands introduced by 17 companies in under a month. The aggressive rollout has brought prices down by nearly 80-90%, making the drug significantly more affordable for Indian patients.

Key Highlights

Patent Expiry Spurs Market Entry

• Boehringer Ingelheim’s patent on Empagliflozin expired on March 11.

• The drug was previously sold under the brand name Jardiance.

• 71 new generic brands launched within weeks of expiry.

Massive Price Drop and Brand Proliferation

• Prices have fallen from ₹60-70 per unit to as low as ₹5-25.

• Empagliflozin combinations have also dropped—up to 80% for Linagliptin combos and 73% for Metformin combos.

• 86 total brands from 19 companies now in the market.

Key Launches and Market Strategy

• Alkem Laboratories, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, and Mankind Pharma are among the first movers.

• Many firms have adopted multi-brand, multi-division strategies to dominate shelf space and capture prescriptions.

• Monthly sales volume increased from 5.5 million to 7.8 million units post-patent expiry.

Statements from Industry Leaders
Sheetal Sapale, VP (Commercial), Pharmarack, said:

• “Empagliflozin off-patent opportunity has been voraciously grabbed by many players. A sharp increase in units sold is a strong indicator of the price differential in branded generics.”

•  “Companies launching in the first month post-patent expiry are likely to gain the biggest market share due to first-mover advantage.”

With the steep drop in price and increased availability, Empagliflozin is now more accessible to patients across India. Industry experts expect more players to enter the market in the coming months, intensifying competition and potentially driving further innovation in branded generics.