Zydus Lifesciences and Lupin announced a licensing and supply agreement on Friday to market Zydus' novel drug Saroglitazar Mg in India for the treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Non-Alcoholic Steato Hepatitis (NASH).

Lupin will have semi-exclusive rights to co-market the product in India under the brand name LINVAS under the terms of this agreement.

Zydus introduced and will continue to market the medicine under the brand names Lipaglyn and Bilypsa.

Lupin will pay Zydus upfront licensing costs as well as milestone payments based on pre-defined milestones.

Saroglitazar Mg's once-daily, 4mg dosing regimen improves compliance, minimizes pill burden, and provides improved convenience for patients.

"Saroglitazar Mg which is one of the critical treatments for patients with NAFLD and NASH has substantially improved the patients’ quality of life. We are pleased to join hands with Lupin to enable access to this novel drug and thereby expand the reach," said Dr. Sharvil Patel, MD of Zydus.

"This partnership reaffirms our commitment to grow and expand our offerings to meet unmet needs of patients in India. This partnership will further enhance our gastroenterology portfolio, offering better access to healthcare options to our patients and medical professionals," said Nilesh Gupta, MD of Lupin.

Through licensing partnerships with other pharmaceutical companies, Zydus has been broadening access to its new treatments. Early this week, the business announced a licensing arrangement with Sun Pharma to co-market its triglyceride-lowering medication Desidustat.

In India, NAFLD is not only a worry for obese or diabetic people, but it has also been noted that NAFLD can develop in the absence of obesity, a condition known as "lean" NAFLD. Because of the rise in obesity and other lifestyle-related disorders, the number of NAFLD/NASH patients has skyrocketed.