Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Bayer to distribute Vericiguat for heart failure in India

In a significant move within the Indian healthcare sector, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. and Bayer have announced a collaborative partnership aimed at the marketing and distribution of a second brand of the heart failure drug Vericiguat under the brand name Gantra in India. This partnership grants Dr. Reddy’s non-exclusive rights to market Vericiguat, marking a notable stride in addressing chronic heart failure among Indian patients.

At the heart of this partnership, Vericiguat emerges as a cornerstone therapy for adults suffering from symptomatic chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (less than 45%). The drug’s mechanism, stimulating soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), offers a novel approach not yet targeted by existing treatments. It aims to diminish the risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization, addressing the needs of an estimated 8-10 million people in India living with this condition.

Shweta Rai of Bayer Zydus Pharma and M.V. Ramana of Dr. Reddy’s both expressed their organizations’ commitment to improving outcomes for heart failure patients. Rai highlighted Vericiguat’s potential in slowing disease progression and reducing hospital admissions, while Ramana emphasized the drug’s addition to Dr. Reddy’s heart failure management portfolio, including other treatments such as Cidmus, Daplo, and beta-blockers.

Heart failure represents a significant public health challenge in India, with a patient demographic that is, on average, a decade younger than that of Western countries. The partnership between Dr. Reddy’s and Bayer signifies a promising development in making innovative treatments like Vericiguat more accessible, especially in regions beyond India’s metro areas, extending into tier-I and tier-II towns.

This partnership is a pivotal development for heart failure treatment in India. By leveraging Dr. Reddy’s extensive distribution network and Bayer’s innovative pharmaceutical solutions, the collaboration is set to enhance the accessibility of advanced healthcare options for millions. The introduction of Vericiguat under a second brand name, Gantra, could significantly impact the management of chronic heart failure in India, offering hope to patients and healthcare professionals alike.