Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Several domestic companies including Sun Pharma, Torrent, Zydus, Dr Reddy’s, Glenmark and Alkem announced the launch of semaglutide on Day 1, substantially lowering the cost of weight-loss therapy.This is in the wake of the innovator Novo Nordisk losing its patent on semaglutide on March 20.Sun Pharma’s weekly therapy costs, from initiation to the highest dose, ranges from approximately Rs 900 to Rs 2,000 for Noveltreat and Rs 750 to Rs 1,300 for Sematrinity, supporting greater affordability, the company said in a statement.Kirti Ganorkar, managing director, Sun Pharma said, “To further support patients, we are also introducing a holistic patient support program intended to guide them throughout their treatment journey”.Further, Torrent Pharma has launched both oral and injectable formulations, expanding its presence in metabolic disorders such as type-2 diabetes and obesity. “We are proud to be the first Indian company to offer this treatment across oral and injectable formulations, giving healthcare professionals a holistic choice for treating patients”, Amal Kelshikar, CEO – India Business, Torrent Pharma said.Others like USV announced the launch in collaboration with Dr Reddy’s Labs. The flurry of launches reflects a broader push by companies to tap into India’s rapidly expanding metabolic disorders market.Blockbuster weight-loss therapies –Wegovy and Mounjaro, marketed by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly respectively, were launched at ‘’India-specific prices’’ last year, while the global bestseller Ozempic by the Dutch firm, made its India debut only in December last year. Semaglutide, a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist, helps to control blood sugar and improve satiety, reducing cravings for food, eventually inducing weight-loss.These launches come even as India faces an escalating diabetes burden, with over 100 million people currently living with diabetes.
