- Partnership to accelerate nationwide availability of Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate (SZC)
- Dual-brand strategy—Lokelma® and Gimliand®—to boost adoption for CKD and heart-failure patients
- Collaboration aims to reduce mortality burden and strengthen guideline-directed care
NE HEALTH BUREAU
MUMBAI & BENGALURU, NOV 17
In a major step toward improving the management of Hyperkalaemia in India, AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited have announced an exclusive second-brand partnership to expand the reach of Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate (SZC)—a breakthrough therapy proven to rapidly and effectively lower elevated potassium levels in high-risk patients.
Under this strategic agreement, the companies will promote SZC under two distinct brands:
- AstraZeneca will market the drug as Lokelma®, retaining intellectual property rights, marketing authorisation and import licence.
- Sun Pharma will distribute the therapy as Gimliand®, leveraging its extensive chronic-care network and India’s largest field force of 15,000 medical representatives.
A Partnership to Strengthen India’s Cardio-Renal Care Landscape
Hyperkalaemia is a serious, often life-threatening electrolyte imbalance commonly affecting patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure (HF), particularly those on RAAS-inhibitor therapies. Studies indicate that the condition affects up to 50% of CKD patients and 42% of chronic HF patients, with mortality in India reported at 22.2%.
Clinical evidence shows that SZC is rapid-acting, effective and well-tolerated, providing a crucial tool that allows patients to stay on guideline-directed RAAS therapy without compromising cardiorenal outcomes.
Leaders Stress the Importance of Early Detection and Wider Access
Praveen Rao Akkinepally, Country President & Managing Director, AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited, said: “At AstraZeneca, we aim to transform care by promoting early screening, accurate diagnosis and adoption of guideline-directed therapy. This partnership with Sun Pharma reaffirms our commitment to delivering innovative, life-changing medicines for patients with Hyperkalaemia. With this collaboration, we can significantly expand the reach of this vital therapy and address the growing disease burden across India.”
Kirti Ganorkar, Managing Director, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, said:
“We are delighted to collaborate with AstraZeneca to tackle the increasing challenge of Hyperkalaemia. The addition of SZC strengthens our commitment to improving care for patients with chronic kidney disease. As India’s largest pharmaceutical company, we remain focused on expanding access to innovative therapies that enhance quality of life and empower healthcare professionals.”
A Significant Boost to India’s Hyperkalaemia Management
Sun Pharma holds an 8.3% share of the Indian pharmaceutical market, ranking No. 1 in prescriptions across 13 specialties—positioning it strongly to amplify SZC’s reach across the country. Combined with AstraZeneca’s innovation-driven approach and scientific leadership, the partnership is expected to substantially improve patient access, especially for chronic and underserved populations.
Backed by AstraZeneca’s vision to advance science and transform outcomes in acute and chronic care, this collaboration marks a transformative step in strengthening India’s therapeutic ecosystem for a high-risk condition that demands rapid intervention and sustained management.
The joint initiative underscores a shared mission: to increase availability, improve patient prognosis and reduce mortality associated with Hyperkalaemia across India.
