Critical Heart Failure drug gets Cheaper, JB Pharma cuts prices of Azmarda by 50 percent

Mumbai: Treatment of Heart Failure will get more affordable in India, as makers of the heart failure drug Azmarda, JB pharma, has announced a substantial reduction in the price of the critical heart failure drug by approximately 50 percent 

After the price reduction, Azmarda (Saccubutril-Valsartan®), 50 mg will be available at INR 39.6 per tablet as compared to INR 78 per tablet. Azmarda, which contains the patented molecule Saccubutril- Valsartan® is indicated for Heart failure which ails 8 to 12 million people in the country.

Azmarda is indicated in adults with long-term heart failure who have symptoms of the disease to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in patients with chronic heart failure (NYHA Class II-IV) and reduced ejection fraction.

HF patients were traditionally prescribed only ARBs / Ace Inhibitors as the main medication. Sacubitril+ Valsartan, launched in 2017, is considered superior to ARBs/AIs in raising Ejection Fraction, hence highly effective for reduced EF patients. Sacubitril+ Valsartan is currently prescribed to 30-35% of such patients while doctors believe the share can go up to 50-65% with the right pricing.