Mumbai based Lupin Limited is in talks with Pfizer Inc over the US marketing rights for nicorandil, a potential channel opener, for which Lupin has received a US patent. The potential of the drug is so tremendous as it has been found to be a more effective drug than existing medicines for erectile dysfunction. It is known that Nicorandil has no side effects like that of sildenafil citrate and has the market potential to replace Pfizer's Viagra in erectile dysfunction (ED) segment. It should be noted that Viagra is the #1 prescribed medicine for ED in the U.S. and has been used by nearly 10 million men.

Lupin filed a patent application for nicorandil in the US for the treatment of sexual dysfunction in 1999 and was awarded the patent last year.

Sources said that the talks are inconclusive and the company may think of engaging talks with others or even introducing the product on their own in US market afterwards.

Lupin has filed 82 patents in all as of date including 14 in USA, nine in Europe, 15 in PCT and 44 in India. The total number of patents granted is 46, which includes 11 in USA, seven in Europe and 28 in India

Lupin Limited is one of India's largest manufacturers of bulk actives and formulations. The principal bulk actives manufactured by it include rifampicin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol (anti-TB), cephalosporins (anti-infectives) and cardiovasculars. The company also possesses competencies in phytomedicines, in which medicines are made out of plant and herbal resources supported by the discipline of modern medicine.

The company is a national leader in anti-TB drugs with a market share of 40.9 per cent. It is one of the leading global manufacturers of Rifampicin (through the complex fermentation process) with an Indian market share of 45 per cent. Lupin's Rifampicin plant is one of only three plants in the world to receive a US FDA certification.
Its world-class manufacturing plants are based in Mandideep (near Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh), Aurangabad (Maharashtra), Ankleshwar (Gujarat) and Tarapur (Maharashtra). A number of these facilities have been approved by the USFDA and UKMCA.

Lupin has established a world-class R&D facility in Pune to spearhead Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) and the discovery of New Chemical Entities (NCE).