Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy’s, Zydus, Glenmark launch generic semaglutide

Following the expiry of the patent on the active ingredient in Danish major Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drugs, Vegovy and Ozempic, Sun Pharmaceutical, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Zydus Life Sciences and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals on March 21 launched generic versions of semaglutide in India.

They join Natco Pharma and one of its marketing partners, Eris Lifesciences, which announced on March 20 that their product would be available on the first day of patent expiration. Generic drugmakers, with several more announcements expected, are eyeing semaglutide’s market share in India, which is estimated at $1 billion, over the next few years.

What boosts the companies’ confidence are studies that suggest the number of people suffering from diabetes in India is more than 100 million, with an additional 136 million people being pre-diabetic.

Pricing at a fraction of the innovator’s product is a key element for the companies as they look to introduce generic semaglutide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, which belongs to the GLP-1 receptor agonist class of drugs, depending on the approval they get from India’s drug regulator.

A leadership team from Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories speaking at the launch of Obeda, the company’s semaglutide injection for type 2 diabetes, said the product is available in dosages of 2 mg and 4 mg and comes in a pre-filled, disposable format for subcutaneous administration once a week with a user-friendly pen device. Each pen in both strengths will deliver a minimum of four weekly doses. Both potencies will cost the patient ₹4,200 per month.

In response to a question, MV Ramanna, CEO of Branded Markets (India and Emerging Markets), said that Dr. Reddy’s price is based on a study. The company expects to get approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for the use of the product for weight management within the next few months.

Senior officials said that while API development and manufacturing, as well as formulation development, was conducted in-house for Obeda, the company is also eyeing foreign markets such as Canada, Brazil and Russia for the product as they open up.

Announcing the launch of its semaglutide injection in various strengths under the Noveltreat and Semtrinity brand names in India, Sun Pharmaceutical said the product is priced significantly lower than the Innovator brand. The cost of weekly therapy, from initiation to the highest dose, ranges from about ₹900 to ₹2,000 for NovelaTreat, which is indicated for chronic weight management, and ₹750 to ₹1,300 for Semitrinity, which is indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Following DCGI approval to manufacture and market the product for the treatment of diabetes and obesity, Zydus Life Sciences has launched Semaglutide Injection under the brand names Semaglin, Mashema and Ultrame. The company said the injection will be available in 15 mg/3 ml cartridges, and the average monthly cost of treatment will be around ₹2,200.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals announced that it is launching Glipic (semaglutide) for diabetes following approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). The company said the expected weekly cost of treatment with the vials ranges from ₹325 to ₹440.