Dapagliflozin Going Off Patent with a Slashed Price

Diabetes is well-known to adversely impact the heart, vascular system and renal system. The patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at two to four times higher risk of developing adverse cardiovascular events such as coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, angina pectoris, and sudden death as compared to those without diabetes. Incidence of an adverse event attracts additional costs for emergency care, investigations, hospitalization, medications, and added consultations. This further compounds the worries of patients' already burdened to meet the diabetes care costs. The financial burden of an event can be estimated from the cost of a coronary angioplasty and stenting that lies somewhere between INR 100,000 – 300,000. Similarly, the median out of pocket expenditure for valve replacement surgery is estimated to range from INR 107,800 to 154,000. Overall, it is estimated that almost 50% of the cost of diabetes management is due to complications and associated hospitalizations. Mitigation of such expenses by prevention of the risk of complications would sharply reduce the economic burden for households and society, and increase patients' quality of life.