US-based LIB Therapeutics will receive upfront and milestone payments along with royalties on net sales, while the remaining terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
New Delhi: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has secured exclusive rights to manufacture and commercialise the cholesterol-lowering drug lerodalcibep in every market except the United States and China under a licensing agreement with US-based LIB Therapeutics, according to the company.
Lerodalcibep belongs to the PCSK9 inhibitor class and is given once a month. It is indicated for adults with hypercholesterolaemia and mixed dyslipidaemia. Drugs in this class act by blocking the PCSK9 protein, which in turn lowers low-density lipoprotein, the form commonly described as bad cholesterol, the company said.
The therapy already holds approvals in two major markets. The European Commission granted it marketing authorisation on 21 September 2026 under the brand name Lyrokaul, while the US Food and Drug Administration has cleared it as Lerochol. Sun Pharma said it will take charge of seeking regulatory approval in those licensed territories where the drug has not yet been cleared.
On the financial side, LIB Therapeutics is entitled to an upfront payment and future milestone payments, as well as royalties linked to net sales in the territories covered by the licence. Other terms were kept confidential, the drugmaker said.
Sun Pharma estimates the market for PCSK9 inhibitors outside the US and China at USD 3.7 billion, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 38 per cent. Europe alone accounted for USD 2.9 billion of that on a moving annual total basis for the second quarter of 2026, according to the company, which said the deal widens its Innovative Medicines business.
Managing Director Kirti W Ganorkar said the pact “marks a significant step in strengthening our global Innovative Medicines portfolio”, with cardiovascular care as the main area of gain. He pointed to the monthly dosing schedule, the small injection volume and the ability to store the product at room temperature for six months as features that make treatment easier for patients. With exclusive rights across all markets other than the US and China, the company intends to widen patient access to the therapy, he added.
Source: PTI, 28 September 2026
