Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has launched its generic Sugammadex injection in the US, targeting a market valued at approximately $1.6 billion. The Mumbai-based company will distribute the anaesthesia reversal agent directly to US hospitals and health systems.

Sugammadex is the generic equivalent of Merck's Bridion, used by anaesthesiologists to reverse muscle relaxant effects after surgery. With the originator's US patents and exclusivity periods expired, rival manufacturers can now compete in what was previously a single-source market for Merck.

The launch expands Glenmark's US injectables portfolio at a time when generic competition erodes margins on oral products. The company received FDA approval for its version and will compete primarily on price against both Bridion and other generic entrants.

Glenmark joins other manufacturers competing for share in the anaesthesia market following earlier generic Sugammadex launches by rivals. Hospital pharmacy directors negotiate contracts based on price and supply reliability, which will determine how quickly generics displace the branded product.

The Indian pharmaceutical company has prioritised complex injectables as a growth driver amid pricing pressure across the US generics sector. Sterile injectables represent a higher-margin segment with fewer competitors than oral solids, making them central to Glenmark's North American strategy.