Indian pharmaceutical company Mankind Pharma announced on Thursday the signing of an exclusive in-licensing agreement with China's Chongqing Chenan Biopharmaceuticals. Under this partnership, Mankind Pharma will commercialize two basal insulin analogs in the Indian market.
The agreement involves bringing two injectable drugs to the market—insulin degludec and a combination of insulin degludec with aspart. These medications are used to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
The goal of this collaboration is to strengthen Mankind's position in the diabetic drug segment and expand its portfolio of advanced injectable treatments. According to industry sources, Mankind may be able to set competitive prices for these insulin analogs.
It is worth noting that the price of the combination drug insulin degludec and insulin aspart, which is sold in India under the trade name Ryzodeg by Novo Nordisk, typically ranges from 1,200 to 1,600 rupees per cartridge or 3-milliliter pen.
Atish Majumdar, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Mankind Pharma, stated that this partnership confirms the company's commitment to expanding access to advanced treatment methods for patients in India while simultaneously strengthening its presence in the diabetic injection therapy segment.
As of July 2026, Mankind's revenue from diabetes treatment amounted to 1,073 crore rupees based on the Mean Annual Turnover (MAT). The company currently holds a 4.4 percent share in the diabetes segment.
A company representative told Business Standard that although most current sales come from oral antidiabetic drugs, injectable medicines such as insulin are expected to become a significant part of this therapeutic area in the coming years. He added that the deal will help the company penetrate the diabetic injection therapy category and move into the top three leaders in this market.
However, the representative clarified that both products have not yet received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and must undergo the regulatory process.
This deal continues Mankind's trend of using similar agreements and partnerships to build an in-licensing pipeline with Chinese pharmaceutical firms for chronic diseases. In 2024, Mankind struck a deal with Innovent Biologics to license its anti-cancer drug Sintilimab for sale in India.
The collaboration with Chongqing Chenan also aligns with Mankind's broader strategy of leveraging global innovations through strategic partnerships and in-licensing opportunities. The company stated in its stock exchange filings that 'China's rapidly developing biopharmaceutical ecosystem provides Indian pharmaceutical companies with the opportunity to acquire differentiated and innovative assets that can complement their existing portfolios.'
Majumdar described China as an emerging hub for innovative biopharmaceutical assets and noted that Mankind continues to focus on expanding its in-licensing pipeline from China, relying on insulin analog partnerships.
On Thursday, Mankind Pharma shares fell by 0.25 percent, closing trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) at 2,385 rupees per share.