Zydus Lifesciences Limited has entered into a non-exclusive patent licensing agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company to market the novel Potassium Competitive Acid Blocker (P-CAB) Vonoprazan in India. The drug will be marketed under the brand name of Vault® in India. Under the terms of this agreement, Zydus will be marketing the drug in India.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is quite prevalent condition affecting patients in India. The pooled prevalence of GERD in the Indian population is 15.6 % as per study published in Indian Journal of Gastroenterology, 2021, citing age, body mass index (BMI), diet, tea/coffee intake, tobacco, and alcohol consumption as risk factors. Zydus is a pioneer in providing innovative treatment options to manage GERD like Pantodac (Pantoprazole), Happi (Rabeprazole), and Ocid® (Omeprazole).

Zydus was the first company to introduce Pantoprazole in India in 1999. The launch of Vault® (Vonoprazan) will provide clinicians a novel treatment option to manage GERD and other acid peptic disorders for the Indian population. Vonoprazan has a novel mechanism of action and it inhibits the binding of potassium ions to H+K+ ATPase (proton pump) in parietal cells in the stomach, thereby it suppresses basal and stimulated gastric acid secretion.

Vonoprazan is approved in India by the DCGI for the treatment of adults with Reflux esophagitis and other Acid Peptic Disorders (APD).