The Danish drugmaker’s patent on semaglutide is set to expire in March. Novo Nordisk, which developed the drug, sells it under the brand names Wegovy (for weight loss) and Rybelsus (for type-2 diabetes). It also has regulatory approval to sell Ozempic (for type-2 diabetes) in India.
Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice to Novo Nordisk and listed Natco Pharma’s petition for further hearing in February.
The domestic drugmaker claimed that the patent lacked novelty and that Novo Nordisk was making an attempt to evergreen the patent to extend its exclusivity beyond the expiry of the primary patent.
The upcoming expiry of the patent has led to many generic companies attempting to manufacture their own versions of the GLP-1 class diabetes and anti-obesity drug. In India, this has led to patent disputes.
