India is notorious when it comes to being the “Chronic Heart Disease Capital of the World”. For years, this disease has plagued Indians. However, there is a ray of hope called “Inclisiran” which has been deemed as the disruptive blood lipid-lowering treatment which shall reduce the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
Two Jabs of Inclisiran Annually Keeps Cholesterol at Bay
Elevated levels of the same keeps one prone to the heart attacks as well as stones. The only and major drawback of the injection is its exorbitant price which is Rs 1.2 lakh per injection.
As per the study by the Indian Council and Medical Research and Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, as many as 24% of India’s population or 213 million people shall suffer from an abnormal lipid profile in the blood which is called as dyslipidemia.
The target consumer of Inclisiran are the individuals who have high LDL cholesterol levels and these individuals will have to take 2 injections annually to keep cholesterol at bay.
Hailing it as innovational for those who suffer from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), Novartis India has already secured the approvals for importing as well as marketing the same.
Notably, the exact cost of Inclisiran is not disclosed. The drug is available in the the European Union since 2020 and in US and UK in 2021, currently undergoing global clinical trials in India.
Various Factors That Determine Drug’s Success
The factors that would guide the success story of the drug in India would include drug accessibility, affordability, and acceptance among doctors and patients.
There can potentially be a high demand for the robust lipid-lowering drug in India due to the prevalent dyslipidemia issues which include high LDL-C, low HDL-C, and high triglycerides.
Belonging to the small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) therapies class, Inclisiran is different than the traditional statins. Inclisiran ‘silences’ the PCSK9 gene, enhancing the liver’s ability to remove harmful cholesterol from the blood.
Notably, there is another lipid-lowering drug, Repatha, which was launched 6 years ago in India which is comparatively cost effective but has to be injected more frequently.
For the statin intolerant patients which have inadequate responses to statin treatment, both these drugs are good alternatives.
Though there is innovation in these medicines, but due to the cost factor there is a significant barrier when it comes to their widespread adoption.
Despite their drawbacks, Statins remain to be most commonly prescribed drugs for cholesterol management. The proliferation and success on Inclisiran depends on cost-effectiveness as well as the long-term safety evaluations.
