Lupin Limited is an Indian multinational pharmaceutical company based in Mumbai. It is one of the largest generic pharmaceutical companies by revenue globally. The company's key focus areas include paediatrics, cardiovascular, anti-infectives, diabetology, asthma and anti-tuberculosis.
History and evolution
Lupin was founded in 1968 by Desh Bandhu Gupta, who was a professor of chemistry at BITS-Pilani, Rajasthan. Gupta initially borrowed Rs. 5000 from his wife to fund the venture. Due to subsequent funding from the Central Bank of India, the company able to start their manufacturing facility for producing folic acid and iron tablets for the Indian government's mother and child health program. Later Lupin started manufacturing anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs which at one point formed 36% of the company sales and was considered as the largest TB drugs manufacturer in the world.
In 1988 Gupta founded the group's CSR arm, the Lupin Human Welfare & Research Foundation (LHWRF). This initiative was dedicated to sustainable rural development with the aim to uplift families living below the poverty line. In 1999, Lupin joined the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance as a founding member.
In July 2015 the company announced its intention to acquire Gavis Pharmaceuticals and Novel Laboratories for $880 million.
The founder, Desh Bandhu Gupta died in June 2017 and was subsequently replaced as chairman by his wife, Manju Deshbandhu Gupta.
In October 2019, Lupin announced the Appointment of Sreeji Gopinatham as Chief Information Officer (CIO).
In March 2019, the US FDA put several Lupin drug plants on notice for quality problems, and indicated it might not approve future Lupin drug applications.
In May 2023, Lupin entered into an agreement to buy the French pharmaceutical company Medisol.
Research and development
Lupin's research program covers the entire pharma product chain. The company's R&D program is headquartered in the Lupin Research Park located near Pune and Aurangabad that houses over 1,400 scientists. Lupin's R&D covers: Generics Research Process Research Pharmaceutical Research Advanced Drug Delivery Systems (ADDS) Research Intellectual Property Management Novel Drug Discovery and Development (NDDD) Biotechnology Research
Businesses
Lupin's businesses encompass the entire pharmaceutical value chain, ranging from branded and generic formulations, APIs, advanced drug delivery systems to biotechnology. The company's drugs reach 70 countries with a footprint that covers advanced markets such as USA, Europe, Japan, Australia as well as emerging markets including India, the Philippines and South Africa to name a few.
Key markets
United States
Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (LPI), the company's US subsidiary is a $891 million enterprise. It has a presence in the branded and generics markets of the US. In the branded business, Lupin operates in the CVS and Pediatric segments. The company is the market leader in 28 products out of the 77 products marketed in the US generics market, of which it is amongst the Top 3 by market share in 57 of these products (IMS Health, December 2014): Suprax (Cefixime), a paediatric antibiotic, is Lupin's top-selling product here. Other products in Lupin's branded portfolio include Antara< (Fenofibrate), Locoid lotion, Alinia (Nitazoxanide) and InspiraChambers (Anti-static valved holding chamber). The company is also the 5th largest and fastest growing generics player in the US (5.3% market share by prescriptions, IMS Health). Lupin's US brands business contributed 9% of total US sales whereas the generics business contributed 91% during FY 2014–15.
India Region Formulations (IRF) Lupin's IRF business focuses on Lifestyle diseases and Chronic disease therapy segments, particularly in Cardiology, Central Nervous System (CNS), Diabetology, Anti-Asthma, Anti-Infective, Gastro Intestinal and Oncology. The IRF business contributed 24% of the company's overall revenues for FY 2014–15, growing by 20% and recording revenues of for FY 2014-15 as compared to for FY 2013–14.
It has 12 manufacturing plants and 2 Research plants in India, as Jammu(J&K), Mandideep & Indore (Madhya pradesh), Ankaleswar & Dabasa (Gujarat), Tarapur, Aurangabad and Nagpur (Maharashtra), Goa, Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and Sikkim; where research centre at Pune and Aurangabad. Among these the baby plant is Nagpur plant which will the biggest formulation unit for Lupin in coming year.