Chinese Gan & Lee wins first biosimilar approval for insulin in Pakistan, a move towards making diabetes medicine easily accessible.
Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals has received the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan’s (DRAP) first biosimilar approval for its insulin glargine cartridge, a significant step that is anticipated to improve the availability of blood sugar-lowering medications within Pakistan.
With 34.5 million adults aged 20 to 79 diagnosed with diabetes and a global-leading prevalence rate of 31.4%, Pakistan faces a severe public health challenge. Currently, 80% of the country’s insulin usage depends on older, second-generation human insulin. In contrast, third-generation insulin glargine offers better control by closely replicating natural basal insulin levels with just one injection per day, ensuring 24-hour glycemic stability. Gan & Lee highlighted that this advanced insulin provides a safer, more user-friendly treatment for long-term diabetic care. Notably, the company had already introduced Pakistan’s first biosimilar insulin glargine pre-filled pen back in 2022.
Gan & Lee noted that China and Pakistan hold complementary strengths in the pharmaceutical sector. While China excels in cutting-edge biopharmaceutical R&D, mass production, and efficient supply chains, Pakistan presents strong demand for healthcare—especially for chronic illnesses like diabetes—as well as an established generic medicine framework and affordable labor, opening significant opportunities for collaboration between the two nations.
The company further shared that it has been working closely with top pharmaceutical firms in Pakistan through technology transfers and local production initiatives. As an example, they cited the successful localization of insulin glargine vial filling within the country.
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