Apollo and Sanofi to jointly expand sugar clinics for diabetics

Apollo Hospitals and pharmaceutical major Sanofi today announced their joint plans to collaborate on expansion of Apollo Sugar Clinics in India. Under, Apollo Sugar Clinics Ltd (ASCL)-A subsidiary of the Apollo Health and Lifestyle- 200 clinics are being planned by 2016 for treating diabetics only.

Under the proposed deal, Sanofi could acquire about 20% stake in ASCL, subject to approval from the FIPB (Foreign Investment Promotion Board). Competition Commission of India has already given its nod for the proposed stake buy by French pharmaceutical major.

"We are aiming to have 50 sugar clinics by the end of current year and take it further to more than 200 by 2016," SnagIta Reddy, chairperson at Apollo Sugar said here on Tuesday.

According to Reddy, who is also joint managing director at Apollo Hospitals pointed out that the cost for each clinic could entail a cost of about Rs 30-60 lakh.

In India alone, 65 million people are affected from diabetes while 77.2 million people are in the pre diabetic stage. Globally this non communicable disease has affected about 382 million lives. India's pie in diabetic patients is expected to swell upto 109 million by 2035.

Reddy claimed that the sugar clinics would be cost effective for the diabetics and provide a 360 degree lifestyle management program.