AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited have announced a partnership to expand the availability of Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate (SZC) for treating Hyperkalaemia in India. AstraZeneca will market SZC as Lokelma®, while Sun Pharma will promote it as Gimliand®. This collaboration aims to improve patient outcomes and address the growing challenge of Hyperkalaemia in India.
Strategic Partnership for Hyperkalaemia Treatment
AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited has entered into a second brand partnership with Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited to increase the availability of Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate (SZC) in India. The exclusive agreement seeks to accelerate the reach of this innovative and effective treatment for Hyperkalaemia to more patients across India, according to the announcement made on November 17, 2025.
Commercialization and Brand Strategy
Under the terms of the agreement, both companies will promote, market, and distribute SZC in India under different brand names. AstraZeneca will market SZC as Lokelma®, while Sun Pharma will promote and distribute the therapy as Gimliand®. AstraZeneca retains the intellectual property rights to SZC and holds the Marketing Authorization along with the import license of the molecule.
Statements from Leadership
Praveen Rao Akkinepally, Country President & Managing Director, AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited, stated that this partnership with Sun Pharma reaffirms AstraZeneca’s purpose to deliver innovative, life-changing medicines and build robust pathways to reach patients in need.
Kirti Ganorkar, Managing Director, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, said that the addition of SZC to their portfolio underscores their commitment to improving the care of patients with chronic kidney disease.
Hyperkalaemia and Market Context
Hyperkalaemia is a clinically significant condition affecting patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure (HF). Prevalence estimates suggest it occurs in up to 50% of patients with CKD and 42% of patients with chronic HF. In India, mortality associated with Hyperkalaemia has been reported at 22.2%.
About Sun Pharma
Sun Pharma is the largest pharmaceutical company in India, with an 8.3% market share and ranks No. 1 in prescriptions across 13 different doctor categories.
Source: BSE
