Novartis’ Vymada Patent Revoked in India, Generics to Cut Prices by 70%

Mumbai, September 17, 2025: India’s Patent Office has called off Novartis’ patent Vymada drug meant for heart failure. This order comes after the office found that the patent lacked originality and was unable to demonstrate significant technical progress. The company also failed to establish any form of improvement in the treatment results in comparison with the existing disclosures. The move has set the stage for generic drug makers to launch their own versions in the local market. This could possibly mean a cost reduction of about 70% enabling the treatment to become more accessible to heart patients.

Impact on Cardiac Drug Market

Worldwide referred to as sacubitril-valsartan, Vymada has quickly become one of India’s fastest-growing heart medicines. The drug currently makes up to ₹550 crore in sales, or around 2.4% of India’s total cardiac drug segment worth ₹23,000 crore. The annual drug sales have jumped nearly 37%, which highlights strong demand and wider acceptance by doctors. Over 15 Indian pharma firms are gearing up to release generic alternatives in the coming months due to the cancellation of the patent.

Price Correction Expected

At its current cost of about ₹650 to 700 per strip, the drug Vymada remains unaffordable for large sections of patients. Analysts forecast that once the locally manufactured drug hits the market, prices could fall in the range of 50 to 70% over the next 12 to 18 months. Such price drops would make this therapy much more affordable to a larger number of heart patients.

Patent Office Ruling

Citing the fact that the patent lacked originality and failed to demonstrate significant technical progress, the official body pointed out that the company failed to establish any improved treatment results compared with the existing disclosures. The ruling invoked Section 3(d) of the Indian Patent Act, the provision that also led to Novartis losing its Glivec patent back in 2013.

Wider Industry Response

Groups such as the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, IPCA, and Micro Labs opposed the patent, arguing it was a case of evergreening. Novartis had previously sued Indian firms like Torrent Pharma, Natco and MSN Labs when they tried to launch generic versions of their drug. Now that the patent is gone, competition will heat up, improving patient access but squeezing profit margins for pharma companies

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