Shares of AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd ended 1% lower on 18th November, even as the company announced that it has entered into a second brand partnership with Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd for Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate (SZC) in India.

Under the agreement, both companies will promote and distribute the Hyperkalaemia drug under separate brand names — AstraZeneca as Lokelma and Sun Pharma as Gimliand — with AstraZeneca retaining the intellectual property rights, marketing authorisation, and import licence.

AstraZeneca’s Praveen Rao Akkinepally said the partnership strengthens the company’s goal of improving early diagnosis and treatment to enhance patient outcomes, while expanding access to this key therapy. Sun Pharma’s Kirti Ganorkar said adding SZC to its portfolio underscores the company’s commitment to improving care for patients with chronic kidney disease and expanding access to innovative treatments.

Hyperkalaemia, which is common among patients with chronic kidney disease and heart failure, affects up to 50% of CKD patients and 42% of chronic HF patients. It often forces doctors to reduce or stop RAAS inhibitor therapy, potentially affecting cardiorenal outcomes and increasing mortality risk.

At 3:30 PM, shares of AstraZeneca Pharma India ended 1.12% lower at Rs 9,037.50 on NSE.

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