Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to launch a generic version of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, a medication used to treat obesity. The approval comes as the patent for the active ingredient, semaglutide, is set to expire in March 2023.
Wegovy, which contains semaglutide, is an injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that helps with weight loss in adults with obesity. The medication has been shown to be effective in reducing body weight and improving glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Sun Pharma’s generic version of Wegovy will be launched in India in March, coinciding with the patent expiry of semaglutide. The company has been working on developing a generic version of the medication for some time and has completed the necessary clinical trials and regulatory requirements to obtain approval from the DCGI.
The launch of Sun Pharma’s generic Wegovy is expected to increase access to this medication for patients in India, where obesity is a growing health concern. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world, with over 30% of the population classified as obese.
The generic version of Wegovy is also expected to be more affordable than the branded version, making it more accessible to patients who may not have been able to afford the medication otherwise. Sun Pharma’s entry into the market is likely to increase competition and drive down prices, benefiting patients and healthcare systems.
Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy has been a blockbuster medication, with sales of over $1 billion in 2022. The patent expiry of semaglutide is expected to lead to a significant increase in the availability of generic versions of the medication, which could impact Novo Nordisk’s sales. However, the company has a strong pipeline of new medications and is expected to continue to be a major player in the pharmaceutical industry.
Overall, the approval of Sun Pharma’s generic Wegovy is a significant development for patients in India, who will now have access to an affordable and effective treatment option for obesity. The launch of the generic medication is also expected to increase competition in the market, driving down prices and benefiting healthcare systems.