Viatris (NASDAQ:VTRS) has officially commenced the global expansion of its cardiovascular portfolio with the launch of Inpefa (sotagliflozin) in the United Arab Emirates, marking the first commercial availability of the therapy outside the United States.
The launch, announced Tuesday, represents the first milestone in a broader international rollout strategy.
Viatris secured the exclusive rights to commercialize Inpefa in all markets outside the U.S. and Europe following a licensing agreement with Lexicon Pharmaceuticals in late 2024.
The UAE serves as the inaugural market in Viatris’ "Emerging Markets" territory, with the company confirming that additional regulatory filings are already under review in Canada, Australia, and Mexico.
Inpefa is distinguished as the first and only dual SGLT1/2 inhibitor approved for heart failure.
While standard SGLT2 inhibitors primarily target glucose reabsorption in the kidneys, Inpefa’s dual action also inhibits SGLT1 in the gastrointestinal tract.
Clinical data from the pivotal SOLOIST-WHF and SCORED trials—encompassing over 11,800 patients—demonstrated that the drug reduced the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalizations by 33%.
Notably, when treatment was initiated prior to hospital discharge, the risk reduction jumped to 51%, providing a critical "early benefit" window for high-risk patients.