New Delhi: US pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly is deepening its specialty portfolio in India across cardio metabolic health, oncology, neurology and immunology with the launch of its Alzheimer's therapy. The company has strategic partnerships with domestic drugmakers Lupin and Cipla in diabetes and metabolic care, and also markets the blockbuster weight-loss therapy Mounjaro in India.
First-of-its-Kind Alzheimer's Treatment
The treatment, Lormalzi (donanemab), is among the first of its kind to target amyloid plaques in the brain, considered a key contributor to Alzheimer's disease, said Winselow Tucker, Eli Lilly India's president and general manager. With the approval of Lormalzi, India now has access to one of the first therapies designed to target the underlying amyloid pathology of Alzheimer's disease, marking a shift beyond symptomatic treatment, he added.
Existing therapies in the country largely address cognitive symptoms. In contrast, Lilly's drug works by reducing amyloid plaques in the brain, an approach associated with slowing disease progression. Lormalzi (350 mg vial) is priced at nearly Rs 92,000 and is administered as an intravenous infusion once every four weeks for up to 18 months.
Regulatory Approval and Local Trials
The launch follows a marketing authorisation from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease with mild cognitive impairment or those in the mild dementia stage of the disease. A local Phase IV trial will be conducted in India to gather safety and efficacy data.
"Our approach to bringing innovations is guided first by areas of unmet medical need in India. Our goal is to introduce innovation in a way that is responsible, evidence-based, and consistent with India's healthcare priorities," Winselow said.
Growing Alzheimer's Burden in India
India is facing a growing Alzheimer's disease burden driven by population aging, low awareness, and delayed diagnosis. Dementia currently affects approximately 8.8 million people in India, with Alzheimer's disease accounting for the majority of cases. This number is projected to nearly double by 2036.
