Bayer signs marketing and distribution agreement with Dr Reddy’s for second brand of Vericiguat in India

Under this new partnership, Dr Reddy’s will market the drug under a second brand name Gantra in India, expanding the reach of vericiguat to meet the needs of patients with Chronic Heart Failure with reduced ejection fraction (less than 45 per cent)

Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and Bayer announced that both companies have entered into a partnership to market and distribute a second brand of Vericiguat in India. Under the terms of this agreement, Bayer has granted non-exclusive rights to Dr Reddy’s under the brand name Gantra.

Vericiguat, a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator, in India, is indicated, along with guideline-based medical therapy, in adults with symptomatic chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (less than 45 per cent), following a recent event of worsening heart failure which required hospitalisation or outpatient intravenous (IV) diuretics. Vericiguat works on a pathway not currently targeted by existing heart failure treatments and can reduce the combined risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalisation in such patient. India has between 8-10 million people with heart failure, making it one of the largest populations with this condition. 

Shweta Rai, Managing Director, Bayer Zydus Pharma and Country Division Head (CDH), Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Business in South Asia said, “Despite therapy, chronic heart failure patients can experience disease progression that disrupts their lives and leads to worsening heart failure events. Vericiguat can help slow down disease progression, reduce hospital admissions and improve their chances of survival,. The introduction of a second brand of vericiguat in India, through our partnership with Dr. Reddy’s is a reaffirmation of our commitment to making innovative healthcare solutions accessible to as many patients as possible.  We are excited about the possibilities this partnership with Dr Reddy’s presents in improving health outcomes for patients with chronic HF, following a recent event of worsening heart failure.” 

M.V. Ramana, Chief Executive Officer, Branded Markets (India and Emerging Markets), Dr Reddy’s said, “Strengthening our chronic therapy portfolio in India continues to be a focus area for us. Vericiguat is a first-in-class sGC stimulator indicated for adults with symptomatic, chronic HF and ejection fraction less than 45 per cent following worsening heart failure. The addition of Vericiguat bolsters our heart failure management portfolio that includes Cidmus, Daplo and beta blockers. The partnership with Bayer is part of Dr Reddy’s continuous efforts to make innovative medicines available to patients in India through strategic collaborations. We will use our strengths in marketing and distribution to widen access to this novel treatment in metros and beyond into tier-I and tier-II towns in India.”