Akums Drugs and Pharmaceutical, an Indian contract drug manufacturing company (CDMO) has launched the novel antidiabetic drug ‘Lobeglitazone’, the drug is a new formulation manufactured specifically for type 2 diabetic patients by helping them improve pancreatic beta-cell function, the pharma company said in a statement on Monday.

Lobeglitazone is a film-coated tablet made up of Lobeglitazone Sulfate equivalent to Lobeglitazone at 0.5 mg. It is approved by the Drugs Controller-General of India and offers a number of advantages, including higher safety profile, higher effectiveness in lower dosage, lower risk of hypoglycemia, and improved pancreatic beta-cell function, among others, the company said.

The drug was formulated for type 2 diabetics who secrete insulin but have poor insulin sensitivity in their organs, making them less able to utilise insulin. Lobeglitazone is a medication which has a relatively low risk of hypoglycemia. The unique formulation was manufactured to improve insulin resistance rather than force its release from the pancreas.

New figures released by the International Diabetes Federation show that over 1 in 12 adults in India are affected by the condition. The number of people with diabetes in India is the second highest in the world (74 million), after China (141 million). Over half of people living with diabetes in India are undiagnosed. A further 40 million adults in India have Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT), which places them at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.  

"This novel product is the result of in-depth research & development and tireless commitment to the production of new drug formulations for the Indian Market.  The tablet has been proven to reduce blood sugar levels, improve lipid and liver profiles, and lower haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) levels. The fact that we're the first CDMO to do this tells a lot about our focus on innovation to offer more effective treatment for the patients," said Mr. Sanjeev Jain, Managing Director of Akums.

The company said that it further plans to introduce more fixed-dose drug combinations (FDCs) in the future specifically for the treatment and management of diabetes, even as it continues to be a major player in the Indian pharma industry.