Global pharma major Lupin Limited has entered into an exclusive License, Supply and Distribution agreement with China-headquartered Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals for Bofanglutide, a novel fortnightly GLP-1 receptor agonist. The deal strengthens Lupin’s diabetes portfolio and accelerates its strategic push into the fast-growing obesity segment.
Bofanglutide injection is a once-in-two-weeks GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Gan & Lee for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes, while also supporting weight management in overweight or obese individuals. Clinical data indicate that its weight loss effect is comparable to or better than currently available GLP-1 alternatives, while offering the convenience of fortnightly dosing versus the once-weekly schedule of other injectable options, with safety and tolerability consistent with the GLP-1 class.
Obesity is projected to become a major health crisis in India, with an estimated 174 million adults classified as overweight and about 50 million as obese, alongside nearly 90 million adults living with diabetes. Against this backdrop, Lupin views the partnership as a key lever to address a growing burden of metabolic disease with advanced GLP-1 therapies.
“We are committed to offering the best solutions for managing chronic metabolic diseases like diabetes, and addressing obesity is one of the most urgent global health challenges,” said Nilesh Gupta, Managing Director, Lupin. “This partnership demonstrates our strategic focus on the GLP-1 class of drugs and highlights our dedication to delivering high-quality, innovative therapies for our patients,” he added.
Highlighting the product’s clinical and practical benefits, Rajeev Sibal, President – India Region Formulations, Lupin, said, “Bofanglutide offers a significant advantage with its convenient fortnightly dosing, thus reducing the number of injections by 50% while delivering outcomes and clinically proven efficacy that matches or surpasses existing weekly formulations.” “This strategic alliance marks a pivotal step in strengthening Lupin’s leadership in metabolic health, expanding our innovative portfolio, and reaffirming our commitment to delivering transformative solutions,” he noted.
From Gan & Lee’s perspective, the tie-up builds on the company’s recent international momentum. Gan & Lee Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer Kai Du and Key Accounts Director Dr Dhaval Soneji said the collaboration with Lupin for the Indian market, following a Latin American exclusive agreement signed in November, underscores the Chinese firm’s rapid global strategic advancement and its ambition to provide superior treatment options for patients with metabolic diseases worldwide.
