India Semaglutide Patent Expires, Prompting Generics and Warnings

The patent for semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, expired in India last week, prompting a rush by local pharmaceutical companies to launch cheaper generic versions and sparking regulatory warnings in both India and the United Kingdom about potential health risks from unregulated access.

Semaglutide, developed by Danish firm Novo Nordisk, belongs to a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, originally approved for treating Type 2 diabetes by regulating blood sugar and suppressing appetite. In recent years, it has gained widespread use for weight management, with an estimated 1.6 million adults in the UK having tried such drugs over the past year, according to researchers at University College London. In the UK, branded versions like Wegovy cost between 80 and 300 pounds for a four-week supply through private prescriptions, while the National Health Service is gradually expanding access for severely obese patients.

The patent expiry in India, along with prior lapses in Canada and upcoming ones in China, Brazil, and Turkey, has opened the door for generic production. At least seven Indian companies announced...