Abbott, MSD join hands to distribute key diabetic drug across India

Two multinational drug makers—Abbott and MSD Pharmaceuticals—have announced a strategic collaboration to distribute the anti-diabetic medicine sitagliptin and its combinations in India.
MSD's sitagliptin and its combinations are marketed in India under the brand names Januvia, Janumet, and Janumet XR. The two American pharmaceutical giants will join hands to leverage Abbott's extensive Indian footprint to distribute this widely used diabetes medication.
Sitagliptin, a DPP4 inhibitor used to treat Type 2 diabetes, was launched by MSD in India in 2008. Following the patent expiry in mid-2022, several Indian drugmakers introduced generic versions of the molecule. The sitagliptin market in India is estimated to be worth ₹950–1,000 crore, forming a significant share of the country's ₹20,700 crore diabetes market.
MSD said in a statement that its sitagliptin brands continue to be among the leaders in the segment, even after the loss of exclusivity. Before patent expiry, MSD had partnered with Sun Pharmaceutical Industries under a licensing agreement to distribute the drug in India.
At that time, there were only four to five sitagliptin brands in the market, including Istavel and Istamet marketed by Sun Pharma. However, post-expiry, the market was flooded with over 150 brands from more than 60 pharmaceutical companies.
MSD and Abbott's partnership aims to strengthen the reach of the innovator brands in a competitive market.
In India, at least 60 per cent of deaths are attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and cancer being the leading causes. The country has an estimated 101 million people with diabetes and 136 million people who are pre-diabetic—at heightened risk of developing the disease in the future.
'As the largest diversified healthcare company in India, Abbott is uniquely positioned to address some of the most pressing health challenges, particularly non-communicable diseases, which contribute to a considerable burden on the healthcare system,' said Ambati Venu, vice-president, Abbott India.
He added, 'We offer a wide range of solutions to help people manage diabetes more effectively—including testing, continuous glucose monitoring, nutrition, and a complete diabetes medicines portfolio. Through our extensive presence, we can help people in India better manage their Type 2 diabetes and take control of their health.'
Rehan A Khan, managing director, MSD India Region, stated, 'Since its introduction in India over 17 years ago, our sitagliptin portfolio has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients across the country and has earned the trust of both doctors and patients. Our partnership with Abbott establishes a sustainable business model that will enable us to continue serving patients throughout India with these diabetes treatments.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Hindustan Times

34 minutes ago

• Hindustan Times

International Yoga Day 2025: 7 healthy recipes that can complement your holistic wellness routine

Jun 21, 2025 03:46 PM IST This International Yoga Day, observed globally on 21 June to honour one of the most holistic wellness practices, say yes to mindful habits that nourish body and mind all year long. If this Yoga Day inspires you to turn over a new leaf by adding yoga to your daily routine, let your dietary choices follow suit by going clean with leafy green salads, millet-based meals, and nutrient-rich ingredients that keep you healthy. Say yes to healthy eating this yoga day.(Shutterstock) ALSO READ: No morning routine? Start with these 6 powerful yoga asanas to bring energy and structure to your day HT Lifestyle has curated a list that covers everything, from morning smoothies and healthier swaps for Indian breakfasts to, of course, the diet staples, a whole bunch of leafy green salad goodness. Here are seven recipes you can try adding to your diet: 1. Banana Smoothie Bowl Recipe by Executive Chef Shivaramakrishna.J, from Novotel Vijayawada Varun A berry banana smoothie bowl is a good boost of antioxidants because of the berries.(PC: Novotel Vijayawada Varun) Ingredients 1 ripe banana (preferably frozen for creaminess) ¼ cup blueberries ¼ cup pomegranate seeds ¼ cup low-fat milk 1 tsp honey (Optional) Toppings: A few extra blueberries A tablespoon of pomegranate seeds A sprinkle of walnuts or granola (optional) Method In a blender, combine the banana, blueberries, 2 tablespoons of pomegranate seeds, and milk. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add more milk only if needed – the mixture should be thick. Pour the smoothie into a bowl and spread it evenly. Top with the remaining blueberries and pomegranate seeds. Add chia seeds or granola for a light crunch and drizzle a tablespoon of honey. 2. Garden beet and tomato salad Recipe by Chef Suriya Vikrant Sharma, Executive Sous Chef, Seb's Farm, RAAYA by Atmosphere Garden beet and tomato salad is the perfect leafy salad you were looking for to add to your diet.(PC: Seb's Farm, RAAYA by Atmosphere) Ingredients Beetroot Yellow and red cherry tomato Lettuce Super seeds Balsamic Basil oil Method Roast or boil the beetroot until tender, then slice. Halve the yellow and red cherry tomatoes. Toss the beetroot, tomatoes, lettuce, and super seeds together. Drizzle with balsamic and basil oil just before serving 3. Ragi malt with jaggery (finger millet porridge) Recipe by Chef Naidu, Sous Chef, The Bheemili Resort Ragi malt with jaggery is good for your health because millet is rich in fibre.(PC: The Bheemili Resort) Ingredients: 2 tbsp ragi flour (about 20g) 1 cup water ½ cup milk (optional – plant-based or skip for vegan version) 2 tbsp jaggery ¼ tsp cardamom powder (optional) A pinch of salt (optional) Method: In a small bowl, mix ragi flour with ½ cup of water to make a smooth, lump-free paste. Bring the remaining 1½ cups of water to a boil in a pan. Slowly add the ragi mixture while stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Cook on low-medium heat for 5–7 minutes, stirring constantly. The mixture will thicken and turn glossy. Add grated jaggery and stir until it melts completely. You can strain the jaggery syrup beforehand if you suspect impurities. Stir in milk (if using) and cook for another 2 minutes. Add cardamom powder for flavour. Serve warm or chilled 4. Ragi millet idli Recipe by Chef Chinna Karuppan, Master Chef South Indian at CUR8, Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru Add millet to make idlis even healthier.(PC: Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru) Ingredients 150 gm idli rice 100 gm urad dal 200 gm ragi millet 20 gm salt Method: Mix the rice with ragi, wash thoroughly, and soak for a minimum of four hours. Wash the urad dal separately and soak for four hours as well. Grind the soaked dal with crushed ice to a fine paste. Separately grind the rice and ragi mix with crushed ice to a coarse consistency. Combine the ground dal with the rice-ragi mixture and grind together for 5 minutes. Add salt and allow the batter to ferment at room temperature. Once fermented, pour the batter into moulds and steam the idlis for twelve minutes. 5. Helengeli fitness salad Recipe by Chef Vipul Singh, Chef de Partie, Spice Restaurant, OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO Helengeli fitness salad is a fresh and nutritious salad.(PC: Spice Restaurant, OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO) Ingredients Avocado Cherry tomatoes Beansprouts Lettuce Red kidney beans Olive Strawberries Sunflower seeds Chickpeas Broccoli Barley Half-boiled egg For the dressing: Olive oil Apple cider vinegar Salt & pepper to taste Method: In a small jar, combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Shake well until fully emulsified. In a large bowl, toss together all the fresh ingredients, including vegetables, legumes, seeds, and fruits. Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat. 6. Mediterranean quinoa bowl with red pepper dip Recipe by Chef Shridhar Parab, Junior Sous Chef at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai Taste the Mediterranean flavours with a spicy edge.(PC: Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai) Ingredients Roasted chickpeas: 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 tbsp cumin powder 2 tsp orange zest 1 tbsp orange juice 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp salt ¼ tsp black pepper 3 tbsp olive oil ½ cup boiled chickpeas Roasted Red Pepper Dip: 2 cups roasted red pepper 1 garlic clove ½ tsp salt 1 lemon, juiced ½ cup olive oil ½ cup almonds Serving: 2 tbsp diced cucumber 1 tsp mint leaves 2 tbsp pitted Kalamata olives 2 tbsp crumbled feta cheese 2 tbsp boiled white quinoa ½ avocado, sliced 2 tbsp roasted chickpeas 2 tbsp roasted red pepper dip Method Preheat the oven to 180°C. In a bowl, mix all ingredients except the chickpeas and whisk until well combined. Marinate the chickpeas in this mixture. Roast the marinated chickpeas in the oven for 10 minutes at 180°C. Separately, roast the red bell pepper at 240°C for 15 minutes. Once done, immediately transfer the pepper to a bowl and cover it for 10 minutes to allow the skin to loosen. Peel off the skin, remove the seeds, and set the pepper aside to dry. Blend all other ingredients coarsely and keep the mixture chilled. Marinate diced cucumber with chopped mint and seasoning. To assemble, arrange all ingredients on a platter with the red pepper dip in the centre. Garnish with black and white sesame seeds and a few sprigs of fresh parsley. 7. Kopy Leaf Salad Recipe by Chef Ahmed Saain, Chef De Partie at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru Kopy leaf salad includes a global twist for salads.(PC: Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru) Ingredients 2 large collard green leaves 1 medium onion, sliced ¼ Maldivian chilli (scotch bonnet), thinly sliced ½ lime, juiced 50 g grated coconut (about ½ cup) 10 g rihaakuru (Maldivian fish paste, optional) Salt to taste Method Wash the leaves and remove the stems and midribs. Slice them thinly Add the sliced onions and peppers to a mixing bowl. Squeeze in the lime. Then, using your fingers, squash and squeeze the mixture until the onions soften and release their juices. Add the grated coconut and mix again until everything looks well combined. Then add the rihaakuru and mix again until everything is well combined. Add in the greens and mix until the greens are well coated with the rihaakuru mixture. Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning accordingly. Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now!. Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs.

India Gazette

40 minutes ago

• India Gazette

"We should make Yoga part of our daily life": Rani Rampal on International Yoga Day

New Delhi [India], June 21 (ANI): Former India women's hockey team captain Rani Rampal extended wishes to all the citizens of the country on the occasion of International Yoga Day and said that everyone should make Yoga part of their daily life. Speaking to the media, Rani Rampal said, 'On the occasion of #InternationalYogaDay, I extend best wishes to everyone. Through various government initiatives, yoga is being should make yoga a part of our daily is everyone's responsibility to stay healthy...' Indian athlete Priyanka Goswami also wished everyone on International Yoga Day. 'On the occasion of #InternationalYogaDay, I extend best wishes to should make yoga a part of our daily is everyone's responsibility to stay healthy...I perform meditation and Yoga daily...' Priyanka Goswami said. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the international community to embrace 'inner peace' as a 'global policy' and make yoga a collective global responsibility. Speaking at the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations in Visakhapatnam, the Prime Minister called upon countries to adopt yoga not just as a personal or cultural practice, but as a unifying force for humanity. 'I would like to take this opportunity to urge the global community on this important occasion to let this International Yoga Day mark the beginning of Yoga for Humanity. Let this be the day when inner peace becomes a global policy, where yoga is embraced not just as a personal practice, but as a powerful tool for global partnership and unity. Let every country and every society make yoga a shared responsibility, a common contribution toward collective well-being,' the Prime Minister said. The event was held along the scenic Visakhapatnam coastline, with Indian Navy ships stationed near the shore, adding to the grandeur of the Modi was joined by lakhs of yoga enthusiasts, residents, and dignitaries from Andhra Pradesh. At the start of his address, the Prime Minister extended greetings to people across the world on the occasion of International Yoga Day, marking its 11th year of celebration since the UN recognised June 21 as the global day for yoga in 2014. In a message about yoga's role in connecting humanity with nature and each other, PM said, 'Yoga teaches us that we are not isolated individuals, we are an integral part of nature. In the beginning, it helps us take care of our own health and wellness. But gradually, this awareness expands, and we begin to care not only for ourselves but also for our environment, our society, and our planet. Yoga is a system that takes us from 'Me' to 'We'.' The Prime Minister also reflected on India's 2014 proposal at the United Nations to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day and how, in record time, over 170 countries supported the move. He said that yoga has since grown into a worldwide practice that symbolises peace, balance, and cooperation. This year's celebrations saw participation from lakhs of people across states. (ANI)

United News of India

an hour ago

• United News of India

Yoga is now a global force for well-being: Nadda

New Delhi, June 21 (UNI) Yoga, which has gained significant global acceptance since the establishment of the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations in 2015, continues to be a vital tool for enhancing well-being worldwide, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said on Saturday here. Addressing the yoga enthusiasts gathered to participate in a mass yoga demonstration to celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga at Kartavya Path here, Nadda credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and initiative for the global recognition and adoption of yoga. Nadda also highlighted the growing importance of yoga in today's world. He emphasised that yoga not only contributes to improved health but also leads to a more fulfilling life by balancing the physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions of the body. "It is a moment of pride that people from all walks of life have gathered here today to celebrate this Indian knowledge system," he said. In a message shared on the social media platform X, Nadda wrote: 'Today, on the occasion of the 11th 'International Yoga Day', I practiced yoga with our yoga-loving brothers and sisters at Kartavya Path in New Delhi. Yoga ensures a happy and better life by providing balance and health to all three dimensions of our body – physical, mental, and spiritual. It has gained global recognition due to the efforts of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, and as a result, millions worldwide are now adopting yoga in their daily lives.'