Multiple Companies Launch Semaglutide Versions in India Following Patent Expiry

India's pharmaceutical market is witnessing a sudden surge of semaglutide launches, as domestic drugmakers race to capture a share of one of the world's most sought-after therapies for diabetes and obesity. In the past few days alone, multiple companies, including Zydus Lifesciences, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, and Alkem, have introduced their own versions of semaglutide, signalling the beginning of a highly competitive and potentially transformative phase in India's metabolic disease treatment landscape.

The trigger is the patent expiry of the original molecule in India. What was once an expensive, limited-access therapy is now entering the mass market, with companies competing aggressively on price and delivery formats. The most striking shift is in affordability, with Glenmark positioning its product, GLIPIQ, as the lowest-cost entry point, with weekly therapy starting at around Rs 325, thereby reducing the monthly cost to roughly Rs 1,300–1,800, depending on the dosage.

Alkem has entered the segment with brands such as Semasize and Obesema, pricing its monthly therapy at about Rs 1,800. Zydus has taken a slightly higher pricing band, estimating monthly therapy at around Rs 2,200, while Dr. Reddy's Obeda is priced at approximately Rs 4,200 per month. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has entered India's rapidly expanding semaglutide market with the launch of Noveltreat and Sematrinity, targeting both obesity and type 2 diabetes.

While Noveltreat is indicated for chronic weight management and available in five dose strengths, Sematrinity is for diabetes care. The company has positioned both products as more affordable alternatives to existing options, with weekly therapy costs ranging from about Rs 900 to 2,000 for weight management and Rs 750 to 1,300 for diabetes, further intensifying price competition in the segment.

Even at the higher end, these prices mark a sharp drop from earlier costs, which had kept GLP-1 therapies out of reach for a large section of Indian patients. For a country with over 100 million people living with diabetes and a rapidly growing obesity burden, this price correction could significantly expand access.

While the drug itself is the same, companies are differentiating through delivery systems and treatment experience. Zydus plans to launch the Semaglutide injection under the brand names SEMAGLYNTM, MASHEMATM, and ALTERMETM, upon the patent expiry in India. Unlike existing treatments that require patients to purchase multiple single-dose pens as they titrate their dosage, Zydus plans to introduce an innovative, adjustable single-pen device, allowing patients to seamlessly select and administer varying dose strengths from a single unit, significantly enhancing patient adherence.

Glenmark is offering both vial-based formulations and pre-filled pens, allowing physicians greater flexibility in initiating therapy. The vial format, in particular, is being pitched as a cost-effective option during early treatment stages. Dr. Reddy's has focused on a fully integrated model, along with a digital patient support programme, SemaKare, that includes onboarding, training, and adherence tracking.

Semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which not only help control blood sugar but also aid in weight loss. Globally, this dual benefit has turned the drug into a blockbuster, with demand extending beyond diabetes to obesity management. In India, this could mark a shift in how obesity is treated, as data suggests that obesity rates in India have risen sharply over the past decade, with significant increases among both men and women.

Meanwhile, BioNxt Solutions Inc. is currently in early-stage development of its semaglutide oral thin-film (ODF) program, with initial formulation work underway, including preliminary feasibility and exploratory proof-of-concept evaluations. Semaglutide has been selected as the company's lead candidate to support the development of a next-generation sublingual oral thin-film (ODF) approach for peptide therapeutics.

The global market for GLP-1 receptor agonists is one of the fastest-growing segments in the pharmaceutical industry, driven by rising prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, as well as expanding clinical use in cardiometabolic care. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global GLP-1 receptor agonist market was valued at USD 62.83 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to USD 254.19 billion by 2034, representing a 16.8% CAGR.