Zydus Lifesciences has officially launched a generic version of the diabetes and weight-loss drug semaglutide in India, following the expiration of Novo Nordisk’s secondary patent for the active ingredient on Friday, March 20. The Drug Controller General of India approved the new injection for the treatment of both Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and obesity.
The pharmaceutical manufacturer introduced the treatment on Saturday under three distinct brand names: SEMAGLYN, MASHEMA, and ALTERME. Zydus stated the average monthly cost of the treatment will be approximately Rs. 2,200, representing a severe price reduction compared to previous branded market rates.
Innovative Delivery System and Market Restructuring
The newly approved injection is manufactured at the Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad and is distributed in a 15mg/3ml cartridge format. Moving away from standard single-dose pens that require patients to purchase multiple units for dose titration, Zydus is deploying a reusable multi-dose pen device.
This novel system allows patients to manually adjust their dose strengths using a single device, which the company states is designed to improve both convenience and treatment adherence.
Prior to the March 20 patent expiration, branded semaglutide therapies in India cost patients between Rs. 8,800 and over Rs. 16,000 per month. The loss of exclusivity has triggered an immediate influx of low-cost alternatives for the highly sought-after medicine. Over 40 Indian pharmaceutical companies, including Sun Pharma, Dr. Reddy’s, Lupin, Natco, and Glenmark, are entering the space, with some generics projected to reach price points as low as Rs. 1,290 per month.
To maximize its distribution footprint in the newly competitive sector, Zydus executed semi-exclusive licensing and supply agreements. The company will co-market its reusable pen device alongside other major domestic pharmaceutical corporations, including Lupin and Torrent Pharma.