Glenmark set to join peers in ‘Semaglutide’ push

Mumbai: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals is set to join Sun Pharmaceuticals, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, and Zydus Lifesciences among leading homegrown drugmakers to introduce cut-price versions of popular anti-diabetes and obesity drug, semaglutide, later this month, escalating competition in this rapidly growing segment.

Glenmark may sell its product at “much lower than half” of that currently charged by the innovator, said people familiar with the matter.

The company may license the drug from a partner holding regulatory approvals in India, the people said. As part of its marketing push, Glenmark has also prepared a comprehensive patient support programme to extend beyond simply selling the drug in a bid to differentiate itself from others in the crowded generics market, they said.

“Unlike taking the established endocrinology speciality route, Glenmark plans to approach the entire gamut of treatment from heart, diabetes, obesity, and including renal health since obesity is known to be a direct cause of renal dysfunction,” an industry official told ET.

The Indian patent for semaglutide expires on March 21, opening the floodgates for at least six leading local drugmakers to jostle for a share of the booming anti-diabetes and obesity market. The country is home to more than 100 million diabetes patients and an equal number of obesity patients.

Estimates by the science journal The Lancet last year showed by 2050, India may have more than 450 million patients with obesity.

Industry estimates suggest the generic versions of semaglutide could be priced at ₹3,000-5,000 per month, nearly half the cost of the innovator brands, which range between ₹8,800 and ₹16,000 depending on dosage.A senior Glenmark executive hinted, during an investor call last November, that the company plans to launch its GLP-1 Agonist or drugs that slow stomach emptying.

Glenmark is expected to ride on the success of its anti-diabetes drug Lirafit, the liraglutide brand that the company has been selling in India since 2024, for the new product roll out.

Glenmark didn’t respond to queries.

Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk sells its Ozempic and Wegovy brands, which its Pune-based partner Emcure markets as Poviztra. Notably, Novo Nordisk’s global rival Eli Lilly has gained a strong lead through its brand Mounjaro (tirzepatide) while the company has allied with Cipla to sell second brands of the drug to consolidate its position in the Indian market.

Cipla’s brand Yurpeak (tirzepatide) sold about ₹33 crore in the two months till January, though Novo’s brands of semaglutide fetched much lower sales-totalling ₹80 crore for Wegovy and Ozempic.