Indian pharmaceutical giant Dr Reddy’s Laboratories is gearing up to introduce a generic and significantly cheaper version of Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy. The company’s move could sharply reduce the cost of obesity treatment in India and globally, tapping into a market that analysts expect to be worth tens of billions of dollars annually. Affordable Alternative to an Expensive Treatment Wegovy, based on the molecule semaglutide, has become one of the most prescribed obesity medications worldwide. In India, its monthly cost ranges from about ₹10,850 for the lowest dose to ₹16,400 for the highest. These prices put the drug out of reach for many patients despite rising obesity rates. Dr. Reddy’s co-chairman and MD, G V Prasad, told Reuters at the BioAsia conference in Hyderabad that the company aims to price its generic version up to 60 % lower than the branded Wegovy, making it a far more affordable option. He said that a discount in the range of 50 %–60 % compared to the original is feasible — a substantial reduction that could widen access to treatment. Patent Expiry Spurs Generic Competition The opportunity arises because the patent on semaglutide is set to expire in March 2026, opening… Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups
