Lupin Limited (Lupin) and German-based pharma major- Boehringer Ingelheim announced the expansion of their partnership with plans to market two new oral anti-diabetics recently approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) – Gibtulio Met® (Empagliflozin + Metformin) and Ajaduo® (Empagliflozin +Linagliptin). Both these products belong to a novel class of oral anti-diabetic drugs patented in India and will be launched for the first time by an Indian company. The two products will be comarketed simultaneously by Boehringer Ingelheim and Lupin across India under different brand names.

The Empagliflozin +Linagliptin combination is the world’s first approved combination of an SGLT-2 inhibitor and DPP4 inhibitor. In addition to a strong effect on lowering blood sugar levels, it also addresses multiple pathophysiological defects in type 2 diabetes, and is a big step towards improved management of type 2 diabetes. It will also help in reducing the pill burden for patients and help improve adherence to the prescribed treatment.