Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has signed a global licensing agreement with US-based LIB Therapeutics for lerodalcibep, a once-monthly drug used to lower “bad” cholesterol, giving it exclusive rights to commercialise and manufacture the medicine outside the US and China. The company disclosed the deal in an exchange filing on Monday, 28 September 2026.
The agreement gives Sun Pharma access to a $3.7 billion market for PCSK9 inhibitors, a class of cholesterol-lowering medicines, outside the US and China. Sun Pharma shares are in focus following the announcement.
What the Licensing Deal Covers
Under the agreement, Sun Pharma gets exclusive rights to commercialise and manufacture lerodalcibep worldwide, excluding the US and China. The company will also be responsible for pursuing regulatory approvals in licensed territories where the drug has not yet been approved.
LIB Therapeutics will receive an upfront payment, future milestone payments, and royalties based on net sales in the licensed territories. Other financial terms of the deal remain confidential.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Drug | Lerodalcibep, a once-monthly PCSK9 inhibitor |
| Brand Name (EU) | Lyrokaul |
| EU Approval Date | 21 September 2026 |
| Territory Licensed to Sun Pharma | Worldwide, excluding the US and China |
| Target Market Size (Ex-US, Ex-China) | $3.7 billion (12 months to Q2 2026) |
| Market Growth Rate | 38% CAGR over the preceding two years |
| Europe’s Share of the Market | $2.9 billion |
| Dosage Form | 300 mg subcutaneous injection, once monthly |
What the Drug Does
Lerodalcibep is a once-monthly PCSK9 inhibitor designed to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), commonly referred to as “bad” cholesterol. In the European Union, it is approved under the brand name Lyrokaul for adults with hypercholesterolaemia and mixed dyslipidaemia, administered as a 300 mg subcutaneous injection once a month.
In the United States, the drug is separately approved under the brand name Lerochol as an adjunct to diet and exercise, to reduce LDL-C in adults with hypercholesterolemia, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. That US approval and the Chinese market are excluded from Sun Pharma’s licensing rights under this deal.
- Sun Pharma gets exclusive rights to commercialise and manufacture lerodalcibep outside the US and China.
- The drug received European Union approval on 21 September 2026, just days before this licensing deal.
- LIB Therapeutics will earn an upfront payment, milestones and net-sales royalties from the arrangement.
- The addressable market has grown at a 38% compound annual rate over the past two years.
Why This Market Matters
According to IQVIA data cited by the companies, the PCSK9 inhibitor market outside the US and China reached $3.7 billion in the 12 months ended Q2 2026, growing at a 38 per cent compound annual growth rate over the preceding two years. Europe alone accounted for $2.9 billion of that market during the period.
PCSK9 inhibitors work through a different mechanism than statins, the more commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs, and are typically used in patients who need additional LDL-C reduction beyond what statins alone can achieve. The category’s rapid growth reflects rising diagnosis and treatment of high cardiovascular risk patients globally.
What Sun Pharma’s Management Said
Kirti W Ganorkar, managing director of Sun Pharma, said the once-monthly dosing of lerodalcibep, combined with its LDL-C reduction, small injection volume and six-month ambient storage, simplifies treatment and offers greater convenience for patients.
Evan Stein, chief operating and scientific officer and co-founder of LIB Therapeutics, said Sun Pharma’s international presence and experience in building global innovative brands make it an ideal partner to bring lerodalcibep to more patients. He added that the companies aim to expand access for patients with cardiovascular disease, or at high cardiovascular risk, who need substantial additional LDL-C reductions despite existing treatment.
What This Means for Sun Pharma Shareholders
The deal adds a licensed, already EU-approved product to Sun Pharma’s innovative medicines portfolio, rather than an early-stage pipeline asset still years from market. That distinction matters for how quickly the drug could begin contributing to the company’s international business, since regulatory clearance in the European Union has already been secured.
- The deal is a licensing and manufacturing agreement, not an acquisition of LIB Therapeutics.
- Revenue contribution will depend on regulatory approvals in other licensed territories beyond the EU.
- Financial terms beyond the general royalty and milestone structure were not disclosed.
- The US and China markets remain outside Sun Pharma’s rights under this specific agreement.
Shareholders tracking Sun Pharma through a demat and trading account can watch for further disclosures on the launch timeline in Europe and other markets, since the EU approval is recent and commercial rollout details have not yet been detailed. Investors following the stock on a trading platform may also want to track how this licensing deal fits alongside Sun Pharma’s broader innovative medicines strategy in its coming quarterly disclosures.
PCSK9 inhibitors as a category have grown in relevance for patients who remain above guideline-recommended LDL-C goals despite being on statin therapy. Observational data across European countries has shown that only a minority of patients on stable oral lipid-lowering therapy achieve their risk-based cholesterol targets, underscoring the addressable need this class of drugs is designed to meet.
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