Pre-expiry Januvia generics may test Merck’s resolve in India

Mumbai-based Glenmark has introduced a cut-price version of Merck's diabetes therapies, Januvia (sitagliptin) and Janumet (sitagliptin/metformin hydrochloride), on the Indian market ahead of the expected 2017 patent expiry date for the compounds. With Glenmark maintaining that its products are ‘non-infringing’, Merck – which has already made at least two separate attempts to adapt its commercial strategy to Indian conditions - will have to decide whether it wants to get involved in a David-versus-Goliath intellectual property rights battle.

Glenmark confirmed the launch, telling Scrip that it is a 'responsible' company which 'respects' patent laws and that it believes that the two products are 'non-infringing'.