Semaglutide's Indian patent expires

Novo Nordisk's core Indian patent covering semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — expired on March 20, 2026 ^[2][5]. Within a weekend, at least five Indian drugmakers had launched their own versions, several priced 70% to 90% below the originator ^[5][6].

Natco Pharma launched first, on the day of expiry, selling a multi-dose vial under the brands Semanat and Semafull at 1,290 rupees a month for the 2 mg and 4 mg strengths and 1,750 rupees for the 8 mg strength ^[5]. CNBC reported Natco's vial at 1,250 rupees a month ^[6]; the two figures differ slightly and the sources do not explain the gap. The next day, March 21, Sun Pharma, Dr. Reddy's, Zydus, Glenmark, Alkem and Mankind followed ^[1][5].

The prices are the headline. Dr. Reddy's launched an injectable pen called Obeda for type 2 diabetes at about 4,200 rupees a month ^[1][6]. Zydus launched Semaglyn, Mashema and Alterme in a reusable multi-dose pen at roughly 2,200 rupees a month, with Indian approval for both type 2 diabetes and obesity ^[1]. Alkem's prefilled pen starts at 1,800 rupees a month, about 450 rupees a week ^[1]. Sun Pharma priced weekly therapy from about 900 to 2,000 rupees for Noveltreat (chronic weight management) and 750 to 1,300 rupees for Sematrinity (type 2 diabetes) ^[1]. Glenmark's GLIPIQ vials run about 325 to 440 rupees a week ^[1].

For comparison, branded semaglutide in India retailed between 10,850 and 16,400 rupees a month before expiry — and that was after Novo cut prices by up to 37% in November 2025 ^[5]. CNBC put Novo's Indian retail price at 8,800 to 10,000 rupees depending on dose ^[6]. Sun Pharma's cheapest weekly injection works out to roughly $8 ^[6].

A market built on volume, not price

India has around 100 million people living with diabetes and nearly a quarter of the adult population classified as obese ^[6]. The International Diabetes Federation's 2025 atlas put India's adult diabetic population at 89.8 million ^[5]. Doctors quoted by CNBC have said close to half their patients would clinically benefit from GLP-1 therapy but only about 5% take it, with cost the main barrier ^[5].

More than 50 branded generics are expected in the coming months ^[6]; one financial research note said the count had crossed 40 brands by the end of April ^[5]. Novo is fighting back with cheaper co-branded versions — Wegovy sold as Poviztra through Emcure, and Ozempic as Extensior through Abbott India ^[5][6]. One analyst told CNBC Novo could hold significant share if it stays only 15% to 20% above generics ^[6].

Why it matters for patients

If you are in the United States, none of these products are available to you, and the price gap does not close soon. Semaglutide stays under patent protection in the US until 2031 by one account ^[2] and 2032 by another ^[6]; a third source says 2031–2032 ^[5]. The sources disagree on the exact year, but all agree the US is years behind India. Importing prescription drugs from India is not addressed in these sources, and legality is not something they establish.

What the Indian launches do show is what happens to price when patents lapse and many manufacturers compete at once. One research note projected initial price erosion of 30% to 50% deepening to 70% to 75% as competition works ^[5]. Whether the US follows a similar curve depends on how many manufacturers enter and how US regulators handle a complex peptide — the sources note semaglutide is a 31-amino-acid peptide with a fatty-acid side chain that is genuinely hard to make at scale ^[5].

There is also a quality caveat worth noting. The same analysis flags counterfeits as a persistent risk in India's injectable market, and says manufacturers without published Phase 3 data or audited manufacturing records may not survive the first regulatory action ^[5]. Alkem said its Indian approval followed review of Phase 3 trials conducted in India ^[1].

What happens next

Canada's patent has also lapsed. Health Canada approved Apotex's Apo-Semaglutide Injection in May 2026, and Hims & Hers began offering it in Canada on May 21 with plans starting at $149 a month ^[3]. Dr. Reddy's was cleared in Canada in April ^[3]. In Brazil, where the patent expired in March, Anvisa approved EMS's Ozivy pen on May 26 — the country's first — with five more synthetic applications and one biological version still under review ^[4]. Dr. Reddy's says it is filing in 87 countries as patents fall ^[5].