Innovator drugs maintain market hold even after patent expiry, shows data

Merck's anti-diabetic molecule sitagliptin retains 81% market share in value terms

Amid a slew of drugs going off patent, US pharmaceutical major Merck, along with its partners, has managed to retain an 81 per cent market share in value terms for its anti-diabetic molecule sitagliptin in the Indian market, according to data from market research firm AWACS.

New launch activity by generic players, too, has slowed, the data showed. In November, there was no generic brand launch in sitagliptin or the sitagliptin-metformin combination. The brand went off patent around July.

Sheetal Sapale, president (marketing), AWACS, said, “[There has been] a significant decline in new launch activity in the last two months.