As obesity is rising in India, the market for weight-loss supplements and fat-loss pills is also growing fast. In the past few months, two official weight-loss drugs have been launched in India. First, Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro was launched in March, and then in June, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy entered the Indian market. Recently, news has surfaced that Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories is planning to launch a cheaper generic version of Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, which is already available in 87 countries.
When will the generic drug arrive?
According to Reuters, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories CEO Erez Israeli said that the plan to launch the generic form of semaglutide, the active compound in Novo’s Wegovy and Ozempic, comes at a time when drug-making companies are competing to gain a share in the global obesity medicine market, which is expected to reach around $1.245 trillion by the early 2030s.
The company plans to launch the generic version first in emerging markets such as Canada, India, Brazil, and Turkey after the patent expires, and later expand to the U.S. and Europe. Dr. Reddy’s has already filed relevant regulatory applications in the countries where it plans to launch. In India, the patent for semaglutide will expire in March 2026, and only after that will the company introduce the drug.
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What will be the benefits of a generic drug?
Generic drugs are generally cheaper. So, while people currently spend thousands or even lakhs of rupees on Wegovy, it is expected that after the launch of the generic version, the cost will be much lower.
Generic drugs are cheaper versions of branded medicines. They have the same active ingredients, dosage, and strength as branded drugs. However, the color and packaging may differ. Despite these differences, generic medicines are considered equally effective. Doctors and regulatory bodies like the FDA consider generics safe and effective because their dosage, quality, and effectiveness are the same as branded medicines.