Sun Pharma, Dr. Reddy’s, Zydus, Glenmark roll out generic Semaglutide

Generic drugmakers in India launch affordable Semaglutide versions, targeting a $1 billion diabetes and weight loss market.

Sun Pharmaceutical, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Zydus Life Sciences, and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals rolled out generic versions of Semaglutide on March 21, following the expiration of the patent on the active ingredient in Danish major Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drugs, Wegovy and Ozempic, in India.

They joined Natco Pharma and one of its marketing partners, Eris Lifesciences, which on March 20 announced that their product would be available on the first day of the patent expiry. The generic drugmakers, with many more expected to make announcements, are eyeing a share of the market for Semaglutide in India, which is estimated to be $1 billion over the next couple of years.

Driving the confidence of the companies are studies that estimate the number of people in India with diabetes to be more than 100 million, along with an additional 136 million who are pre-diabetic.

Pricing at a fraction of the innovator’s product is the key element for the companies as they roll out generic Semaglutide, which belongs to the GLP-1 receptor agonists class of medication, to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, depending on the approvals they have got from India’s drug regulator.

A leadership team from Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories that spoke on the launch of the company’s Semaglutide injection, Obeda, for Type 2 diabetes stated that the product is available in 2 mg and 4 mg strengths and comes in a pre-filled, disposable format for subcutaneous, once-a-week administration with a user-friendly pen device. Each pen in both strengths will deliver a minimum of four weekly doses. The cost to the patient will be ₹4,200 per month for both strengths.

CEO of Branded Markets (India and Emerging Markets) M.V. Ramana, to a query, said Dr. Reddy’s pricing is based on a study. The company is hopeful of receiving Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approval for use of the product for weight management within the next few months.