AstraZeneca India scraps Dapagliflozin distribution deal with Abbott

AstraZeneca Pharma India (AstraZeneca India) said that it has scrapped its distribution agreement with Abbott Healthcare pertaining to its Type 2 diabetes drug Dapagliflozin in India.

As per an agreement signed in late 2018, Abbott Healthcare had been promoting and distributing Dapagliflozin under the “Gledepa” brand name and the Dapagliflozin and Metformin combination under the “Gledepa Met” brand name.

AstraZeneca India said that by virtue of the distribution agreement, Abbott Healthcare had not been given any license to the patents over the drugs comprising Dapagliflozin. The company further stated that the license granted to Abbott Healthcare was with respect only to the use of the Gledepa and Gledepa Met trademarks.

AstraZeneca’s Indian subsidiary scraps Dapagliflozin distribution deal with Abbott Healthcare. Photo courtesy of AstraZeneca.

AstraZeneca India stated: “We now wish to further update that AstraZeneca India and Abbott have mutually terminated the Distribution Agreement on 27th May 2021.”

The company said that will continue to independently market Dapagliflozin, which is the combination of Dapagliflozin and Metformin and also Dapagliflozin and Saxagliptin in India under the brand names – Forxiga, Xigduo, and Qtern respectively.