Lupin receives approval for capsules managing osteoarthritis pain

United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has granted approval to pharma major Lupin Limited for its Meloxicam Capsules, 5 mg and 10 mg, a generic equivalent of Vivlodex® Capsules, 5 mg and 10 mg of Zyla Life Sciences US, Inc. The product will be launched shortly after being manufactured at the company's facility in Aurangabad, India.

Meloxicam Capsules, 5 mg and 10 mg, are used in managing osteoarthritis (OA) pain. Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of one's bones wears down with age and is a form of arthritis affecting millions of people globally.

The osteoarthritis therapeutics market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 8.1 per cent, from US$ 6.8 billion in 2019 to reach US$ 10.1 billion by 2024, according to a research. The industry is witnessing considerable growth owing to rapid growth in the geriatric and obese population and the associated increase in the prevalence of osteoarthritis disease.

According to IQVIA MAT March 2020, Meloxicam Capsules (RLD: Vivlodex®) had an annual sales of about US$ 14 million in the US.

Lupin Limited is placed as the eighth largest generic company globally, based on sales. As of March 2019, 65 of its 175 generics products marketed in the US were ranked #1 by market share and 129 of the 175 were in the top 3 by market share (IQVIA, March 2019). Its average market share per product at 33 per cent is the highest amongst its peers, as is claimed by the company.

At 9.30am on Wednesday, the stock of Lupin opened at 880, up by 1.04 per cent or Rs 9.1 per share from its previous day’s close.