How Mankind’s Anti-Diabetic Products Support Type 2 Diabetes Management

Mankind’s anti-diabetic portfolio supports type 2 diabetes management by combining a wide range of established and advanced anti-diabetic drugs with strong speciality teams, pan-India reach, and a pipeline that includes next-generation therapies such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and fixed-dose combinations for better adherence . Mankind Pharma offers several DPP-4 inhibitor medications like Gliptagreat and Dynaglipt to treat type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes burden in India

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterised by insulin resistance and progressive beta-cell dysfunction, leading to sustained hyperglycaemia and increased risk of cardiovascular, renal, and neurological complications.  According to WHO, there are an estimated 77 million people above the age of 18 years suffering from diabetes (type 2) and nearly 25 million are prediabetics (at a higher risk of developing diabetes in near future) in India. In this context, optimised use of anti-diabetic drugs is essential to achieve target HbA1c levels (<7% as per ADA guidelines) and reduce long-term healthcare costs.

Mankind’s dedicated diabetes focus

Mankind Pharma has made diabetes a key pillar of its chronic therapy strategy, reflected in both its portfolio mix and specialised organisational structure. Anti-diabetic therapies contribute approximately 9% of its domestic sales, underscoring the strategic importance of this segment across more than 500 products in both acute and chronic areas. To deepen disease focus, Mankind operates two Super Speciality Diabetes Teams—Nobelis and Diacar—covering the spectrum from type 1 to type 2 diabetes care.

• Nobelis, launched in 2020, focuses on both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and operates with pan-India reach to support endocrinologists and physicians managing complex cases.
• Diacar, acquired in 2022, is positioned specifically for type 2 diabetes and builds on an established flagship brand, Glizid, in the oral anti-diabetic category.

This structure enables closer engagement with key opinion leaders, better alignment with treatment guidelines, and more consistent medical education around rational anti-diabetic drug use. 

Breadth of anti-diabetic products

Mankind’s diabetes portfolio spans multiple drug classes that address different pathophysiological defects in type 2 diabetes, allowing tailored regimens based on patient profile and comorbidities. The company’s anti-diabetic products include:

• Basal insulin analogues such as Glargine, which provide steady 24-hour insulin coverage and are commonly added when oral therapies no longer achieve adequate control in type 2 diabetes.​
• Guideline references like SGLT2 inhibitors are recommended by ADA/EASD for patients with cardiovascular or renal risk. SGLT2 inhibitors like Dapagliflozin and Empagliflozin, improve glycaemic control while conferring additional cardiorenal benefits, are an important consideration as cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death in people with diabetes.  Combinations like Metformin + Dapagliflozin, Sitagliptin + Metformin and Sitagliptin + Pioglitazone + Metformin are some of the drugs for diabetics from Mankind Pharma . 
• DPP-4 inhibitors such as Vildagliptin, which enhance incretin action to increase glucose-dependent insulin secretion and reduce hypoglycaemia risk compared with some older agents.
• Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors such as Voglibose, which delay carbohydrate absorption and are particularly useful for controlling postprandial glucose spikes common in Indian dietary patterns.
• Sulfonylurea-based brands like Glizid, which remain widely used in India due to strong efficacy and affordability when added to metformin in patients requiring intensified therapy.

By offering both single-molecule and fixed-dose combinations across these classes, Mankind helps clinicians simplify regimens, improve adherence, and address fasting and post-meal glucose abnormalities in a coordinated way. 

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Innovation: novel anti-diabetic molecule

Beyond established pharmacological classes, Mankind is developing an innovative anti-diabetic NCE designed to address unmet needs in type 2 diabetes management. The pipeline includes an Investigational New Drug that is currently in Phase I clinical trials and aims to manage diabetes through mechanisms not fully addressed by existing therapies, potentially widening future options for difficult-to-treat patients. Earlier, Mankind reported preclinical success with MKP10241, a patented oral GPR119 agonist that increases glucose-dependent insulin and GLP-1 secretion and showed reductions in plasma glucose and glycated haemoglobin in animal models.

This innovation focus complements its commercial portfolio and positions the company to participate in the next wave of anti-diabetic treatment paradigms while maintaining continuity of care with current molecules.

Affordability and accessibility for Indian patients

Affordability is a critical barrier in type 2 diabetes, as many patients in India pay out of pocket and may reduce doses or discontinue therapy when costs rise. Mankind’s overarching strategy emphasises breaking cost barriers while maintaining quality, supported by in-house API manufacturing and a deep distribution network that extends beyond metros into rural and semi-urban markets. This approach is especially relevant in diabetes, where lifelong use of anti-diabetic drugs, regular monitoring, and concomitant therapies (for blood pressure, lipids, and complications) can otherwise create substantial financial strain.

Mankind’s extensive field force and pan-India coverage ensure that its anti-diabetic products—spanning insulins and oral drugs—are available across tiers of healthcare settings, from tertiary hospitals to smaller clinics and pharmacies. As chronic therapies gain share in the company’s revenue, strong performance in anti-diabetes indicates growing penetration and prescriber confidence in these offerings.

Supporting holistic type 2 diabetes management

Effective type 2 diabetes management goes beyond glycaemic control to include cardiovascular risk reduction, patient education, and adherence support. Mankind’s broader cardiovascular and vitamins/minerals portfolios complement its anti-diabetic range, enabling physicians to manage hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and micronutrient deficiencies frequently seen in people with type 2 diabetes through an integrated treatment approach. For example, the coexistence of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes—both top global health burdens—means that a patient may receive an SGLT2 inhibitor for glycaemic and cardiorenal protection alongside antihypertensives such as amlodipine- or telmisartan-based products.

Medical education initiatives and speciality teams further promote guideline-based use of type 2 diabetes anti-diabetic medication, focus on achieving glycaemic targets, and encourage early intensification rather than therapeutic inertia. As newer classes such as GLP-1 receptor agonists evolve globally, Mankind’s leadership has expressed confidence that its diversified anti-diabetic portfolio, spanning traditional and newer molecules, will continue to grow and remain relevant in the overall diabetes care pathway. Mankind’s approach aligns with ADA/EASD recommendations for comprehensive diabetes care.

By combining a diverse suite of anti-diabetic products, speciality sales structures, innovation in NCEs, and a strong affordability and access philosophy, Mankind Pharma plays a significant role in supporting comprehensive, real-world type 2 diabetes management for millions of patients in India.