Torrent Pharma and Takeda collaborate to market acid reflux medication

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd ties a non-exclusive patent licensing agreement with Takeda Pharmaceuticals to introduce Vonoprazan to the Indian market. Vonoprazan, an innovative potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB), is aimed at managing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition characterized by stomach acid or bile irritating the food pipe lining.

Torrent will market Vonoprazan under its proprietary trademark, Kabvie. Aman Mehta, director at Torrent Pharmaceuticals, expressed enthusiasm about launching Kabvie, foreseeing its potential to alleviate the burden of GERD and bolster Torrent's gastrointestinal portfolio in the Indian pharmaceutical sector.

GERD, a chronic digestive ailment, affects individuals when stomach acid or bile flows into the food pipe, resulting in irritation of the lining. The prevalence of GERD in the Indian population stands at approximately 8.2%, with urban areas showing a higher prevalence of around 11.1%, according to a 2019 study published in the Indian Journal of Gastroenterology.

Traditionally, drugs like Pantoprazole (Proton Pump Inhibitors) have been utilized to address GERD symptoms. With the introduction of Kabvie, Torrent aims to provide an innovative solution to manage and alleviate the symptoms of GERD in the Indian market.