Health and Me

Rachel V Thomas

Semaglutide Becomes Cheap In India: A Gamechanger Or Health Gamble?

The end of patent on semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, in India has ushered in the way for cheaper generic -- up to 90 per cent lower than the original drug price.

HealthandMe spoke to various experts to understand whether the cheaper versions of semaglutide will spur better health for Indians, or whether the various side effects seen in Ozempic will also be translated to the low-priced drugs. 

The patent for Novo Nordisk, the original maker of semaglutide, ended on March 20. On the same day, <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/natco-pharmas-1st-to-launch-generic-semaglutide-in-india-prices-start-from-rs-1290-article-153883910" data-type="tilCustomLink">NATCO Pharma </a> became the first to introduce Semanat and Semafull for INR 1,290 per month and INR 1,750 -- about 90 per cent cheaper than Ozempic, costing INR 8,800 per month. Eris Lifesciences also announced its plans to launch a multi-dose vial under the brand name Sundae at the same price.

Today, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals launched their generic versions of semaglutide.

Dr. Reddy’s Obeda is priced at Rs 4,200 per month, available in 2 mg and 4 mg strengths. 

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries will sell under the brand names Noveltreat (doses ranging from INR 900) and Sematrinity (doses ranging from INR 750). Meanwhile, Glenmark’s GLIPIQ vials range from Rs 325 to Rs 440 per week.

Zydus Lifesciences has also announced the launch of its generic version of semaglutide injection under the brand names SEMAGLYNTM, MASHEMATM, and ALTERMET. The average monthly cost of the treatment will be about Rs 2,200, the company said in a statement.

Dr. V. Mohan, Chairman of Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai, told HealthandMe called it a “very positive development” yet stressed the need to ensure “quality”. 

According to a BBC report, around 50 branded semaglutide generics will enter the Indian market within months. How will this benefit Indians? Let's take a look. 

Semaglutide works as a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics the GLP-1 hormone to regulate appetite and blood sugar. It slows gastric emptying and makes you feel fuller longer. It also signals the brain to reduce hunger and cravings, and triggers the pancreas to release insulin when blood sugar is high. 

“For a country like India, which carries a large burden of Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity (and related complications), this could translate into meaningful clinical gains,” Dr. Anoop Misra, who heads Delhi’s Fortis-C-DOC Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology, told HealthandMe.

India is facing an alarming diabetes epidemic, ranking second globally with an estimated 101 million people living with diabetes and another 136 million with prediabetes as of 2023, according to the ICMR-INDIAB study.

Similarly, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2019–21 states that 24 percent of Indian women and 23 percent of Indian men are overweight or obese.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/semaglutide-ozempic-will-go-generic-weight-loss-drug-cost-could-lower-by-90-article-153887484" data-type="tilCustomLink">Ozempic Will Go Generic, Weight-loss Drug Cost Could Lower By 90%</a>

<h2>Semaglutide: Risks Vs Benefits </h2>

In people with type 2 diabetes, Harvard Health noted that the body's cells are resistant to the effects of insulin and the body does not produce enough insulin, or both. This is when GLP-1 agonists stimulate the pancreas to release insulin and suppress the release of another hormone called glucagon.

These drugs also act in the brain to reduce hunger and act on the stomach to delay emptying, so you feel full for a longer time. These effects can lead to weight loss, which can be an important part of managing diabetes. 

Notably, semaglutide is not just a glucose-lowering drug -- it improves weight and has proven cardiovascular, liver, and renal benefits. 

Wider availability could therefore help reduce long-term complications such as heart disease and kidney failure. If used appropriately, this could indeed be a major step forward in total metabolic care, the experts said.

“The increasing affordability of GLP-1 receptor agonists is a double-edged development. On one hand, it significantly improves access for patients with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high cardiovascular risk -- conditions that are highly prevalent in India. These drugs have demonstrated meaningful benefits in weight reduction, glycemic control, and even cardiovascular risk reduction, which could translate into long-term public health gains,” Dr Vivek Bindal, Senior Director &amp; Head, Bariatric and Robotic Surgery, at Max Healthcare, told HealthandMe.

A recent study published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal showed that Ozempic can also help tackle the<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/ozempic-may-reduce-depression-and-anxiety-risks-in-diabetics-the-lancet-article-153870765" data-type="tilCustomLink"> burden of depression</a>, anxiety, and self-harm in high-risk diabetic patients.

However, the benefits are conditional -- it depends on appropriate prescribing, reliable product quality, and adequate patient monitoring, said Dr. Misra.

"These drugs should be strictly prescribed by qualified doctors and used only for therapeutic purposes, not for cosmetic weight loss,” Dr. Mohan said. 

Urging for careful monitoring of side effects, the expert also called for more Indian data and strict pharmacovigilance. 

“This also presents a great opportunity for India to make these drugs affordable and accessible to other developing countries across Asia and Africa,” the noted diabetologist said. 

The experts also warned of “indiscriminate or unsupervised use” due to low cost.

This is particularly for cosmetic weight loss without proper medical evaluation, said Dr. Bindal. 

“GLP-1 therapies are not ‘quick fixes’ -- they require careful patient selection, dose titration, and monitoring for side effects such as gastrointestinal intolerance or, rarely, pancreatitis,” he added. 

However, the focus should remain on holistic obesity management, including lifestyle modification, rather than over-reliance on pharmacotherapy alone.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/semaglutide-wegovy-can-spur-sudden-sight-loss-by-5x-men-more-at-risk-finds-study-article-153817167" data-type="tilCustomLink">Semaglutide: Wegovy Can Spur Sudden Sight Loss By 5x; Men More At Risk, Finds Study</a>

The major concerns around semaglutide include: 

<ul><li>Quality and manufacturing variability </li></ul>

Semaglutide is a complex peptide, unlike conventional small-molecule drugs. Variations in manufacturing, storage, or delivery devices may affect efficacy and safety. 

<ul><li>Cold-chain and storage issues </li></ul>

Maintaining 2-8°C across India’s diverse healthcare settings is challenging. Breaks in the cold chain could reduce drug effectiveness without being immediately apparent.

With 40+ companies entering the market, ensuring uniform quality, batch consistency, and device reliability will stretch regulatory systems. 

<ul><li>Inadequate physician training </li></ul>

Many prescribers may lack experience with GLP-1 receptor agonists—particularly regarding dose titration, side-effect management, and patient selection. 

<ul><li>Pharmaceutical promotion vs. scientific education </li></ul>As seen previously with drugs like Dapagliflozin, aggressive marketing may outpace unbiased medical education, especially in smaller centers.

<ul><li>Indiscriminate or cosmetic use</li></ul>

There is a real risk of semaglutide being used for “quick weight loss” without proper medical supervision. 

<ul><li>Adverse effects and monitoring gaps </li></ul>

Gastrointestinal side effects, gallbladder disease, and rare pancreatitis require counselling and follow-up—often lacking in routine practice. 

<ul><li>Patients with Type 2 diabetes and overweight/obesity </li><li>Individuals with poor glycemic control despite standard therapy </li><li>Patients with high cardiovascular risk, or who have suffered heart attacks and strokes </li><li>Those with metabolic syndrome or abdominal obesity </li><li>Selected patients with chronic kidney disease </li><li>People with obstructive sleep apnea (disordered breathing at night) </li><li>People with severe fatty liver and consequent damage to the liver</li></ul>

"In these groups, semaglutide provides multidimensional benefit -- glucose lowering, weight reduction, and cardiometabolic protection," Dr. Misra said. 

Semaglutide should be avoided or used with extreme caution in: 

<ul><li>Patients with a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma </li><li>Individuals with a history of pancreatitis </li><li>Those with severe gastrointestinal disease (e.g., gastroparesis) </li><li>Pregnant or breastfeeding women </li><li>Patients with Type 1 diabetes </li><li>Patients with severe eye problems due to diabetes (can be taken with care) </li><li>Individuals seeking purely cosmetic weight loss without a medical indication.</li></ul>

Health Conditions A-Z

health

semaglutide

ozempic

weight loss

zydus lifesciences

sundae

reddys laboratories

noveltreat

natco pharma

sun pharmaceutical industries

glenmark pharmaceuticals

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The end of patent on semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, in India has ushered in the way for cheaper generic -- up to 90 per cent lower than the original drug price.  HealthandMe spoke to various experts to understand whether the cheaper versions of semaglutide will spur better health for Indians, or whether the various side effects seen in Ozempic will also be translated to the low-priced drugs.  The patent for Novo Nordisk, the original maker of semaglutide, ended on March 20. On the same day, NATCO Pharma  became the first to introduce Semanat and Semafull for INR 1,290 per month and INR 1,750 -- about 90 per cent cheaper than Ozempic, costing INR 8,800 per month. Eris Lifesciences also announced its plans to launch a multi-dose vial under the brand name Sundae at the same price. Today, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals launched their generic versions of semaglutide. Dr. Reddy’s Obeda is priced at Rs 4,200 per month, available in 2 mg and 4 mg strengths. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries will sell under the brand names Noveltreat (doses ranging from INR 900) and Sematrinity (doses ranging from INR 750). Meanwhile, Glenmark’s GLIPIQ vials range from Rs 325 to Rs 440 per week. Zydus Lifesciences has also announced the launch of its generic version of semaglutide injection under the brand names SEMAGLYNTM, MASHEMATM, and ALTERMET. The average monthly cost of the treatment will be about Rs 2,200, the company said in a statement.Dr. V. Mohan, Chairman of Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai, told HealthandMe called it a “very positive development” yet stressed the need to ensure “quality”. According to a BBC report, around 50 branded semaglutide generics will enter the Indian market within months. How will this benefit Indians? Let's take a look. Semaglutide works as a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics the GLP-1 hormone to regulate appetite and blood sugar. It slows gastric emptying and makes you feel fuller longer. It also signals the brain to reduce hunger and cravings, and triggers the pancreas to release insulin when blood sugar is high. “For a country like India, which carries a large burden of Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity (and related complications), this could translate into meaningful clinical gains,” Dr. Anoop Misra, who heads Delhi’s Fortis-C-DOC Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology, told HealthandMe. India is facing an alarming diabetes epidemic, ranking second globally with an estimated 101 million people living with diabetes and another 136 million with prediabetes as of 2023, according to the ICMR-INDIAB study. Similarly, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2019–21 states that 24 percent of Indian women and 23 percent of Indian men are overweight or obese. Also read: Ozempic Will Go Generic, Weight-loss Drug Cost Could Lower By 90% Semaglutide: Risks Vs Benefits In people with type 2 diabetes, Harvard Health noted that the body's cells are resistant to the effects of insulin and the body does not produce enough insulin, or both. This is when GLP-1 agonists stimulate the pancreas to release insulin and suppress the release of another hormone called glucagon. These drugs also act in the brain to reduce hunger and act on the stomach to delay emptying, so you feel full for a longer time. These effects can lead to weight loss, which can be an important part of managing diabetes. Notably, semaglutide is not just a glucose-lowering drug -- it improves weight and has proven cardiovascular, liver, and renal benefits. Wider availability could therefore help reduce long-term complications such as heart disease and kidney failure. If used appropriately, this could indeed be a major step forward in total metabolic care, the experts said. “The increasing affordability of GLP-1 receptor agonists is a double-edged development. On one hand, it significantly improves access for patients with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high cardiovascular risk -- conditions that are highly prevalent in India. These drugs have demonstrated meaningful benefits in weight reduction, glycemic control, and even cardiovascular risk reduction, which could translate into long-term public health gains,” Dr Vivek Bindal, Senior Director & Head, Bariatric and Robotic Surgery, at Max Healthcare, told HealthandMe. A recent study published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal showed that Ozempic can also help tackle the burden of depression, anxiety, and self-harm in high-risk diabetic patients. However, the benefits are conditional -- it depends on appropriate prescribing, reliable product quality, and adequate patient monitoring, said Dr. Misra. "These drugs should be strictly prescribed by qualified doctors and used only for therapeutic purposes, not for cosmetic weight loss,” Dr. Mohan said. Urging for careful monitoring of side effects, the expert also called for more Indian data and strict pharmacovigilance. “This also presents a great opportunity for India to make these drugs affordable and accessible to other developing countries across Asia and Africa,” the noted diabetologist said.  The experts also warned of “indiscriminate or unsupervised use” due to low cost. This is particularly for cosmetic weight loss without proper medical evaluation, said Dr. Bindal. “GLP-1 therapies are not ‘quick fixes’ -- they require careful patient selection, dose titration, and monitoring for side effects such as gastrointestinal intolerance or, rarely, pancreatitis,” he added. However, the focus should remain on holistic obesity management, including lifestyle modification, rather than over-reliance on pharmacotherapy alone.Also read: Semaglutide: Wegovy Can Spur Sudden Sight Loss By 5x; Men More At Risk, Finds Study The major concerns around semaglutide include: Quality and manufacturing variability Semaglutide is a complex peptide, unlike conventional small-molecule drugs. Variations in manufacturing, storage, or delivery devices may affect efficacy and safety. Cold-chain and storage issues Maintaining 2-8°C across India’s diverse healthcare settings is challenging. Breaks in the cold chain could reduce drug effectiveness without being immediately apparent. Regulatory burden With 40+ companies entering the market, ensuring uniform quality, batch consistency, and device reliability will stretch regulatory systems. Inadequate physician training Many prescribers may lack experience with GLP-1 receptor agonists—particularly regarding dose titration, side-effect management, and patient selection. Pharmaceutical promotion vs. scientific education As seen previously with drugs like Dapagliflozin, aggressive marketing may outpace unbiased medical education, especially in smaller centers. Indiscriminate or cosmetic useThere is a real risk of semaglutide being used for “quick weight loss” without proper medical supervision. Adverse effects and monitoring gaps Gastrointestinal side effects, gallbladder disease, and rare pancreatitis require counselling and follow-up—often lacking in routine practice. The greatest benefit will be seen in: Patients with Type 2 diabetes and overweight/obesity Individuals with poor glycemic control despite standard therapy Patients with high cardiovascular risk, or who have suffered heart attacks and strokes Those with metabolic syndrome or abdominal obesity Selected patients with chronic kidney disease People with obstructive sleep apnea (disordered breathing at night) People with severe fatty liver and consequent damage to the liver "In these groups, semaglutide provides multidimensional benefit -- glucose lowering, weight reduction, and cardiometabolic protection," Dr. Misra said.  Who Should Avoid Semaglutide?  Semaglutide should be avoided or used with extreme caution in: Patients with a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma Individuals with a history of pancreatitis Those with severe gastrointestinal disease (e.g., gastroparesis) Pregnant or breastfeeding women Patients with Type 1 diabetes Patients with severe eye problems due to diabetes (can be taken with care) Individuals seeking purely cosmetic weight loss without a medical indication.