AstraZeneca Advances Oral GLP-1 Drug and Defends Diabetes Patent in Australia

AstraZeneca is advancing development of its oral GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes drug while simultaneously defending its existing diabetes portfolio in court. The company recently obtained a Federal Court injunction in Australia preventing a generic drugmaker from selling a copy of its diabetes drug dapagliflozin.

The oral GLP-1 drug has shown strong results in Phase IIb studies and is now being taken into Phase III studies globally, according to AstraZeneca's Managing Director for India. He stated that India could play a role in these trials and be a market for the drug once regulatory approvals are obtained, citing the country's high incidence of obesity and metabolic disorders.

The Australian injunction against Pharmacor is part of an ongoing patent dispute that carries commercial implications for AstraZeneca's diabetes franchise. Separately, AstraZeneca has joined a major collaboration with Evinova to use its AI native platform to speed up and streamline clinical trials across the company's development pipeline.

In India, AstraZeneca faces competition in the GLP-1 segment from Novo Nordisk with Ozempic and Wegovy, and Eli Lilly with Mounjaro. Several generic drugmakers have also launched versions of injectable semaglutide in India after its patent expired in March. Novo Nordisk's oral semaglutide pill Rybelsus for diabetes is already available in India.

The company views its oral GLP-1 format as offering broader access and convenience, positioning it as a key part of its strategy to expand its cardiovascular and renal drug portfolio in India. AstraZeneca's Managing Director emphasized that if the drug delivers the right value proposition as an oral medication, it could make a significant impact in the market.