Glenmark received approval to launch the product from the Drug Controller General of India after conducting clinical trials on psoriasis patients for 16 weeks.

The company will launch apremilast tablets in India this week and the treatment cost is expected to be Rs2,000 per month. “Glenmark is proud to be the first player to introduce apremilast, an advanced oral treatment for psoriasis in India. The introduction of this revolutionary treatment will open a new treatment paradigm for millions of patients across the country by overcoming several challenges of the existing therapies,” said Sujesh Vasudevan, president and head of India Formulations and Africa Region at Glenmark.

According to Glenmark, apremilast is an immuno-modulator, while other drugs available in the country, including biologics, are immuno-suppressants, which can make the body susceptible to various infections. The company says apremilast does not have side effects on organs like the liver and the kidneys and that the patient does not require frequent diagnostic tests.

“The existing treatments pose several challenges like the need for medical professionals for administration, routine laboratory monitoring, and safety challenges. Apremilast is a safe and efficacious treatment which is administered orally thus does not require any professional help or routine laboratory monitoring,” Vasudevan said.