Torrent, Zydus collaborate to bring liver disease treatment to India

Pharmaceutical companies Torrent Pharmaceuticals and Zydus Lifesciences on Friday announced that they have signed a licensing and supply agreement to jointly market Saroglitazar Mg for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in India. The drug, approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), is seen as an important step in addressing these health issues.

Torrent will market Saroglitazar Mg in India under the brand name Vorxa. Known for its 4 mg once-daily dosing regimen, the medication aims to improve patient compliance, reduce pill burden, and offer greater convenience to people suffering from chronic liver disorders. Zydus will continue to market the drug under its existing brands, Lipaglyn and Bilypsa.

Saroglitazar Mg received approval in March 2020 for the treatment of NASH and later expanded its indications to include NAFLD.

Speaking on this, Zydus CEO Sharvil Patel said, “This partnership with Torrent is a testament to our long-term vision of expanding the reach of our drug. “Saroglitazar Mg is one of the critical treatments for patients with NASH and NAFLD and fills an unmet healthcare need.”

Echoing this sentiment, Torrent Pharmaceuticals Director Aman Mehta said: “In NASH and NAFLD, disease areas with high prevalence and limited therapeutic options supported by clinical evidence, Saroglitazar Magnesium represents a significant advancement. We are delighted to partner with Zydus and add Saroglitazar Magnesium, under the Vorxa® brand, to our portfolio. “This will further grow our gastroenterology franchise and help address emerging unmet patient needs.”

Non-alcoholic liver disease poses a major health challenge in India and affects approximately 25 to 30 per cent of the adult population. Of them, almost 59.10 percent are estimated to suffer from NASH, a condition that can progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.