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Generic Wegovy Approval Sparks Indian Race
23 Jan
Summary
- Sun Pharma gets approval to sell generic Wegovy in India.
- Generic semaglutide to launch under Noveltreat brand.
- Patent expiry in March 2026 spurs market entry race.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, India's largest drugmaker by revenue, announced on Friday, January 23, 2026, that it has secured regulatory approval to produce and market the generic version of the popular weight-loss medication Wegovy within the country.
The generic form of semaglutide, the key ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Ozempic, will be introduced in India under the brand name Noveltreat. This launch is scheduled to occur after the semaglutide patent concludes in March 2026.
This development highlights a competitive race among Indian generic drug manufacturers to capture a significant share of the rapidly expanding weight-loss drug market. Sun Pharma's approval follows closely behind Dr Reddy's Laboratories, which announced earlier this week a similar nod for the generic version of Ozempic.
Both Ozempic and Wegovy utilize semaglutide as their active compound. While Ozempic is primarily a diabetes medication, it is also frequently used off-label for weight management due to its appetite-suppressing properties, which are also the basis for Wegovy's efficacy.
