In a move that could redefine India’s insulin market, Sanofi is quietly preparing to sell its blockbuster brand Lantus, signalling a turning point in the country’s diabetes drug landscape
For nearly two decades, Lantus has been a household name in India’s diabetes treatment space—a long-acting insulin trusted by doctors, stocked by hospitals, and used by countless patients daily. Now, in a surprising turn of events, French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi is putting this star performer on the block. And Indian pharma heavyweights are watching closely.
Sources with The Economic Times said that Sanofi has slashed it's asking price for Lantus from Rs 3,000 crore to Rs 2,000 crore, hoping to attract serious bids from domestic players. Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Glenmark, and Emcure are said to be in the fray, eyeing a deal that could instantly transform Lantus into the most valuable brand acquisition in Indian pharma history. While Sanofi has refused to confirm or deny the news, insiders suggest the company is actively exploring a full sale or, if bids fall short, a licensing route.
Lantus has long enjoyed market dominance thanks to its once-daily dosing convenience and its proven efficacy. But its reign hasn’t been without challenges. The Indian government’s price control efforts, including a 21 per cent mandated reduction in 2023, have squeezed margins. Meanwhile, innovations like once-a-week insulin shots are beginning to threaten Lantus' market share, even though the drug still outsells most of its competitors by a significant margin.
According to data from market researcher PharmaTrac, Lantus clocked Rs 426 crore in sales over the 12 months ending February 2025. That’s a steep fall from Rs 588 crore in 2022. And those numbers don’t even include government and institutional sales, which could push its real market size much higher.
Why would Sanofi let go of such a powerful brand? The move appears to be part of a bigger shift in strategy. The company is betting big on newer, patented drugs and its consumer healthcare business, Opella. It’s already made several strategic partnerships in India: with Cipla for neurology drugs, Dr Reddy’s for vaccines, and Emcure for distributing cardiovascular products. Last year, Sanofi also launched Soliqua, a next-gen diabetes drug that combines insulin glargine with lixisenatide—geared not just to regulate sugar but also to help with weight loss.
But no matter how you look at it, putting Lantus up for sale marks the end of an era. In a country where over 100 million people live with diabetes and where the insulin market is growing at 6 per cent annually, brands like Lantus aren’t just medicines—they’re legacy assets. In the hands of a major Indian firm, the brand could see a second life, potentially reaching untapped markets with renewed pricing and distribution strategies.
Meanwhile, the insulin battlefield is heating up. Danish firm Novo Nordisk already dominates with six out of the top ten insulin brands in India. Indian firms like Eris, which acquired Basalog from Biocon last year, are rapidly gaining ground. A successful acquisition of Lantus would dramatically shift that balance.
As of now, all eyes are on how the deal unfolds. Will Sanofi find the right buyer? Or will it pivot to a licensing model to keep one foot in the game? One thing’s for sure—the outcome of this sale will ripple across India’s entire pharma industry.
