Inspiring move: Heart failure medicine AZMARDA’s price cut by 50 percent

One of India’s fastest-growing pharmaceutical firms, JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd (JB Pharma), has announced a significant price cut of almost 50% for the life-saving medicine “Azmarda,” which treats heart failure. Heart failure, which affects 8 to 12 million people nationwide, is approved for Azmarda, which contains the proprietary chemical Saccubutril-Valsartan®. Azmarda (Saccubutril-Valsartan®), 50 mg, will now cost INR 39.6 per tablet as opposed to INR 78 before the price cut.

Dilip Singh Rathore, President of Domestic Business at JB Pharma, commented on the action, saying, “Being a major participant in the cardiac market, JB has chosen to take the initiative in improving the affordability and accessibility of their Azmarda medicine for heart failure patients in India. This is consistent with our aim of offering advanced, high-quality care to a bigger patient base at the most reasonable pricing points. The overall monthly treatment cost will drop from INR 4500 to INR 2200 as a result of this change. The HF medication also aids in lowering hospitalisation expenses by at least INR 1,000,000.”

Additionally, he said “Increased awareness of heart failure is crucial because it is a severe ailment. As a result, JB will launch more than 300 “Heart failure” clinics nationwide to enable people to identify the problem early and make wise medical choices.”

When the heart doesn’t pump blood as well as it should, it develops heart failure, a chronic illness. It is a chronic syndrome that worsens over time and is characterised by a decline in quality of life and functional status. In the legs and lungs, where blood frequently backs up, fluid can accumulate and produce congestion. In addition to leg and foot swelling, the fluid buildup might result in breathing difficulties. Heart failure (HF) is a disorder that affects between 8 and 12 million people nationwide.

Patients typically only become aware of it in its final stages and frequently goes undetected. About 80–90% of individuals have left ventricular hypertrophy, with HFpEF and HFrEF being shared almost evenly (50–50) amongst them (Heart Failure Preserved Ejection Fraction). Given the frequency of hospitalisation and high mortality, HF is a disorder that is mostly treated by specialists (cardiologists treat 50–70% of the patient pool, whereas diabetologists treat 5–10% of patients). In India, HF affects a population that is comparatively younger than in the west. In addition to lowering the cost of care, JB’s action will help people live better, healthier lives and have more productive years.

Traditionally, the only medications recommended for HF patients were ARBs (Angiotensin Receptor Blockers) and AIs (Ace Inhibitors). Launched in 2017, Sacubitril+Valsartan is thought to raise EF (Ejection Fraction) better than ARBs/AIs, making it more effective for HFrEF patients. Currently, 30–35% of HFrEF patients receive a prescription for sacubitril+ valsartan, but doctors think that number might increase to 50–65% with the proper cost.

According to IQVIA, MAT Sep 22 data Saccubutril-Valsartan® has a market size of more than INR 500 crores and a three-year CAGR of almost 30%. The chemical is currently protected by a patent held by Novartis AG, a Swiss company. Four businesses, including Novartis, are actively providing products for the Indian market. In January 2023, the chemical is anticipated to lose its patent. Currently, Azmarda is the third-largest brand in the category, with IQVIA MAT OCT’22 sales of INR 93.5 crores and a 17% market share. For a price of INR 246 crores on April 22, JB Pharma purchased the Azmarda brand for the India market from Novartis AG, Switzerland.

JB Pharma- The Company

One of India’s fastest-growing pharmaceutical firms, JB Pharma was founded in 1976 and is a major player in the hypertension market. In addition to having a significant presence in India, which generates the majority of its revenue, it also has domestic markets in Russia and South Africa. The top 300 IPM brands in India include five of the company’s brands. Over 40 nations, including the USA, receive the company’s finished formulations for export. It also excels in producing medicated lozenges and provides branded generic formulations to numerous nations.

The business is one of the top 5 producers of herbal and prescription lozenges worldwide. Seven advanced manufacturing facilities, including one specifically for lozenges, are located in India. The production facilities have received certification from prestigious regulators around the globe.

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