Published Mar 20, 2026 | 7:53 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 20, 2026 | 7:53 PM
more than 40 Indian companies are preparing over 50 generic brands, with expected price cuts of around 50 to 60 percent.
Synopsis: With the Indian patent on Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, expiring, drugmakers can launch lower-priced generic versions. Doctors are both happy and concerned over the possibility of the drug becoming affordable to more people.
For months, medicines such as Semaglutide and Tirzepatide have been discussed in India, as only a few could afford these high-priced drugs. The situation may now begin to change, at least in the case of Semaglutide.
The main Indian patent on Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, will expire on 21 March. It opens the door for Indian drugmakers to launch lower-priced generic versions.
According to industry experts, more than 40 Indian companies are preparing over 50 generic brands, with expected price cuts of around 50 to 60 percent from current branded levels.
For Indian patients, this is not just a pharma story. It is a story about whether obesity and diabetes treatment could move from being aspirational to being more widely accessible.
Generic medicine is a low-cost version of a branded drug that contains the same active ingredient and is meant to be used in the same way. It is expected to match the original in strength, dosage form and clinical performance.
The shift happens after patent protection ends. A drug patent typically lasts between 10 and 20 years from filing, and once the relevant patent expires, other manufacturers can produce the same molecule after regulatory approval.
In India, however, the term generic is often used alongside branded generic. It is because many off-patent medicines are sold under different brand names. For instance, a paracetamol product such as Dolo 650 is a branded generic, while a plain paracetamol version sold through Jan Aushadhi is often referred to as a generic in everyday usage.
In the case of GLP-1 drugs, the current development in India is mainly around Semaglutide, the molecule used in Ozempic and Wegovy. Following the expiry of the relevant Semaglutide patent in India, companies such as Natco and several other drugmakers are preparing lower-priced versions.
This does not mean all GLP-1 drugs have gone generic. Tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro, is a different molecule and is not part of the same patent expiry story.
When a drug goes generic, other companies can manufacture and sell the same active ingredient after patent protection ends, subject to regulatory approvals. This usually increases competition and brings prices down.
In India, the immediate spotlight is on Semaglutide. That is the molecule used in Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for obesity. With the patent expiry, Indian firms have been racing to enter the market with their own semaglutide products.
Dr V Mohan, diabetologist and chairman of Madras Diabetes and Research Centre, told South First that about 50 companies are expected to release Indian generic versions of Semaglutide.
As per reports, several companies, including Dr Reddy’s, Lupin, SunPharma, Zydus and others, have a plan to launch the drug in the market.
Dr Mohan said it would bring down the price of these medicines considerably. He explained that Indian pharma is always known for its quality.
“India is called the pharma capital of the world, and in that sense, this is a historical day when 50 different versions of Semaglutide will be launched by various companies,” he said.
However, this does not mean every GLP-1 drug is suddenly becoming generic. Tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro, is a different molecule from Eli Lilly and is not part of this Semaglutide patent expiry story.
Meanwhile, Dr Mohan explained that it is important to note that the products are of very high quality and there are very few impurities, and they match the original product as closely as possible. He added that most of these have been launched by well-known Indian pharma companies, so quality should be reasonably assured.
India has a large and growing burden of both diabetes and obesity. It makes any fall in the price of effective long-term medicines significant. Literature shows that India is the world’s second-largest country by number of adults with diabetes, and the domestic obesity drug market is projected to rise from about ₹15 billion to ₹80 billion by 2030.
Until now, cost has been a major barrier. Out-of-pocket spending remains the norm for many Indian patients. That has limited sustained use, especially because these medicines are typically taken over months and often longer.
“It will be a big step forward and a shot in the arm for many patients who could not otherwise afford to take the original Semaglutide molecules,” Dr Mohan added.
Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic was priced at ₹8,800 a month for 0.25 mg, ₹10,170 for 0.5 mg and ₹11,175 for 1 mg. Wegovy, after a price cut in November 2025, costs ₹16,400 a month for the highest 2.4 mg dose. Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro KwikPen, which is not going generic now, remains far costlier, ranging from ₹14,000 to ₹27,500 a month depending on dose.
Compare the prices with the first wave of generics. Doctors expect that generic Semaglutide in India could bring monthly treatment costs down to roughly ₹1,500 to ₹5,000. It can be noted that Natco Pharma has already launched Semaglutide at about ₹1,290 to ₹1,750 a month, depending on dose, with a pen device expected at around ₹4,500 a month.
However, the exact price will depend on the company, delivery device, dose strength and indication. Higher doses used in obesity care may still cost more than diabetes doses. Companies are yet to announce the final prices.
Not really. A lower sticker price is not the same as universal affordability.
“These medicines still require medical supervision, dose escalation, follow-up and monitoring for side effects. Also, not every generic may launch immediately in every format. Some companies are focusing first on injectable versions for diabetes, while oral Semaglutide plans are still being lined up for later launches,” explained Dr Abhay G, an Endocrinologist in Bengaluru.
Approval for diabetes and approval for obesity are not always interchangeable in practice. Even if the molecule is the same, companies still need the relevant regulatory pathway and labelling for different uses. This matters because much of the public buzz around these medicines is about weight loss, while many early launches may be positioned first through the diabetes route.
Generic does not mean casual. Doctors warned that Semaglutide is not a beauty drug or a quick fix. It is a prescription medicine with a defined role in diabetes and obesity care, it can help with glycaemic control and weight reduction, but it can also cause nausea, vomiting, constipation and other gastrointestinal side effects. It is also not suitable for everyone.
Indian regulators appeared to be on alert against the risk of overpromotion. Earlier this month, India’s drug regulator warned companies against direct or surrogate advertising of weight loss drugs, including obesity awareness campaigns that could function as hidden promotion.
The warning is important. Once prices fall, the risk is not just wider access. It is a wider misuse. An overcrowded market may also lead to inappropriate prescribing. Doctors expressed concern that these drugs might be seen only as for cosmetic weight loss, and stopping supervision could be a major problem.
Dr Anantharaman R, Senior Endocrinologist at the Magna Centres for Obesity, Diabetes and endocrinology, demanded that the relevant information must be made public. “Semaglutide going off patent is a great advantage for 10 crore or more individuals who qualify for this drug. However, doctors need more clarity in the regulatory process and how each of these generic copy molecules has been approved. Ideally, if the CDSCO or DCGI makes this information public, any medical professional or a layman can verify the information themselves -it will increase our confidence in the prescription as there are more than 40 brands which have marketing authorisation, making it difficult for practitioners to choose one over the other,” he said.
He added that it would be better if reputed pharma companies could make the information available in the public domain.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
