Patent Granted for Anti-diabetic Drug Vildagliptin

Chennai Patent Office has lately granted an Indian Patent No. 212815 to Novartis for anti-diabetic drug compound Vildagliptin against the mail-box application no. IN/PCT/2001/779/CHE claiming priority from US provisional application dated December 10, 1998. Vildagliptin (earlier known as LAF 237) is second drug in the class of Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) inhibitors to reach to market, after Merck’s Sitagliptin which also received an Indian Patent No. 209816 two months back in December against the mail-box application no. 26/CHENP/2004. Globally marketed as Januvia, Sitagliptin recorded $ 668 million in worldwide sales in 2007 and is projected to reach $2 billion in annual worldwide sales by 2011. Lately, Vildagliptin got approval from European health authorities and is marketed under the brand name Galvus. In July 2007, Bristol-Myer also received an Indian Patent No. 206543 for Saxagliptin against the mail-box application no. IN/PCT/2002/01154/MUM. Bristol is likely to submit an NDA for Saxagliptin this year with the US FDA, possibly the third DPP IV inhibitor to gain market approval.