India's patent on semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, expired on 20 March 2026. By 21 March at least six Indian drugmakers had launched generic versions, at reported monthly prices from about Rs 1,290 to Rs 4,200, against Rs 8,800 for Novo's starting dose of Ozempic and Rs 10,850 for Wegovy. On 31 March Novo cut its own starting-dose prices by 36% and 48%. This page sets out what the public record shows: who launched what and at what price, what approvals have been reported, what has happened in Canada and the United States, and what is not yet known. Every figure links to the page it came from.
What happened when the patent expired
ThePrint reported on 21 March 2026 that generic versions launched the day after semaglutide lost patent protection in India, with Natco launching a day earlier, before the patent formally expired. Outlook Business gives the expiry date as 20 March 2026 and said that more than 50 brands were expected in the coming months. It also reported Sun Pharma's weekly injection from Rs 750, about Rs 3,400 a month, and Dr Reddy's diabetes version at around Rs 4,200 a month.
| Company | Brands | Price per month, as reported | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Reddy's | Obeda | Rs 4,200 (2 mg and 4 mg doses) | Pre-filled pen |
| Sun Pharma | Sematrinity (type 2 diabetes); Noveltreat (weight management) | Noveltreat Rs 3,600 to 8,000 (five strengths); Sematrinity Rs 750 to 1,300 a week | Pre-filled pens |
| Glenmark | Glipiq | Rs 1,300 to 1,760 | Vial; pen price not disclosed |
| Alkem | Semasize, Obesema, Hepaglide | Rs 1,800 (Rs 450 a week) | Disposable pre-filled pen |
| Zydus | Semaglyn, Mashema, Altreme | About Rs 2,200 (average) | |
| Natco | Semanat, Semafull | From Rs 1,290 | Vial; a pen was expected in April at Rs 4,000 to 4,500 |
| Eris Lifesciences | Sundae | Same as Natco's starting dose | Marketing partner of Natco |
| Novo Nordisk, for comparison | Ozempic; Wegovy | Rs 8,800; Rs 10,850 (starting doses) | Before its cuts of 31 March |
These are list prices quoted in the press, not prices checked at pharmacies, and they cover different doses, vials and pens, so they are not like-for-like. The chart shows the lowest price quoted for each company.
How Novo Nordisk responded
Novo had been cutting prices before generics arrived. Business Today reported on 11 November 2025 that Novo cut the price of Wegovy by up to 37% across doses, with the 0.25 mg starting dose falling from Rs 4,336 to Rs 2,712 a week; the article cited PharmaTrac data on the rapid growth of Eli Lilly's Mounjaro. The Korea Times reported on 20 March 2025 that Lilly had launched Mounjaro in India that day, with its lowest dose, a 2.5 mg vial, priced at Rs 3,500.
On 31 March 2026, Business Today reported, Novo announced cuts of 36% to the starting dose of its diabetes semaglutide and 48% to Wegovy. The article said branded semaglutide had been priced above Rs 10,000 a month before generic entry, that dozens of domestic companies had launched lower-priced versions, and that some were offered below Rs 2,000 a month, a fall of as much as 90% from earlier branded prices. It did not give Novo's new rupee prices.
What has been approved
Reports differ. ThePrint said Dr Reddy's was the first Indian company approved by India's drug regulator (the DCGI), for type 2 diabetes, and was seeking approval for weight management, while Zydus had approval for both type 2 diabetes and weight management. Outlook Business, almost three weeks later, described Dr Reddy's version as diabetes-focused, said there was "no well-defined pathway yet" from the regulator (CDSCO) for establishing bioequivalence in peptide generics, and said doctors would influence whether use stays in diabetes or expands into obesity. It did not say that any generic had been approved for obesity. This page does not resolve the difference: the regulator's records are the place to check any particular product.
Canada and the United States
India is not the first market with generic GLP-1 medicines. In the United States, Teva launched an authorized generic of Victoza (liraglutide) in June 2024 and described it as the first generic GLP-1. In Canada, Health Canada approved Dr. Reddy's generic Ozempic on 28 April 2026, within its 180-day review target, for type 2 diabetes; approved a second, from Apotex, on 1 May; and on 29 June approved Apotex's Sevmia, a generic version of Wegovy for chronic weight management in patients aged 12 and over. Health Canada said on 28 April that it was reviewing eight other submissions, and on 29 June that six others were still under review.
| Date | Market | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2024 | United States | Teva launches an authorized generic of Victoza (liraglutide) | BioSpace |
| 20 March 2025 | India | Lilly launches Mounjaro | The Korea Times |
| 11 November 2025 | India | Novo cuts Wegovy prices by up to 37% | Business Today |
| 20 March 2026 | India | Semaglutide patent expires; generics launch from 20 to 21 March | Outlook Business; ThePrint |
| 31 March 2026 | India | Novo cuts starting-dose prices by 36% (diabetes) and 48% (Wegovy) | Business Today |
| 28 April 2026 | Canada | First generic semaglutide approved (Dr. Reddy's, type 2 diabetes) | Health Canada |
| 1 May 2026 | Canada | Second generic approved (Apotex, type 2 diabetes) | Health Canada |
| 29 June 2026 | Canada | Generic Wegovy approved (Apotex's Sevmia, weight management) | Health Canada |
What is not yet known
Several things cannot be read from public sources. First, sales and prescription volumes: tracking data from commercial providers exist, but they are licensed and are not reproduced here, so this page makes no claim about how many people have switched or how large the generic market is. Second, prices are list prices reported by the press for particular doses and presentations, and they changed within days. Third, approvals: the reports above differ on which products are cleared for weight management. Fourth, the number of brands: ThePrint listed six manufacturers and a marketing partner on 21 March, Business Today said dozens of domestic companies had launched by 31 March, and Outlook Business expected more than 50 brands. Semaglutide is a prescription medicine, and this page is general information, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
When did the semaglutide patent expire in India?
Outlook Business gives 20 March 2026. ThePrint reported that generic versions launched from 20 and 21 March, with Natco launching before the patent formally expired.
Who launched generic semaglutide in India?
According to ThePrint on 21 March 2026, Dr Reddy's, Sun Pharma, Glenmark, Alkem, Zydus and Natco, with Eris Lifesciences as Natco's marketing partner. Business Today said dozens of domestic companies had launched lower-priced versions by 31 March.
How much cheaper is generic semaglutide in India?
ThePrint reported monthly prices from Rs 1,290 to Rs 4,200 for the lowest doses or fixed strengths quoted, against Rs 8,800 for Ozempic and Rs 10,850 for Wegovy starting doses. Business Today reported that some generics were offered below Rs 2,000 a month. Doses, vials and pens differ, so the prices are not like-for-like.
Did Novo Nordisk cut its prices in India?
Yes. Business Today reported on 31 March 2026 that Novo cut the starting-dose price of its diabetes semaglutide by 36% and of Wegovy by 48%, after cutting Wegovy prices by up to 37% in November 2025.
Is generic semaglutide approved for weight loss in India?
Reports differ. ThePrint said Zydus had approval for both type 2 diabetes and weight management and that Dr Reddy's was seeking approval for weight management; Outlook Business described the Dr Reddy's product as diabetes-focused and did not report any generic approved for obesity.
Is generic semaglutide available in Canada?
Health Canada approved generic semaglutide injections from Dr. Reddy's (28 April 2026) and Apotex (1 May 2026) for type 2 diabetes, and Apotex's generic Wegovy, Sevmia, for weight management on 29 June 2026. Six other submissions were under review at that date.
Sources
- ThePrint, Rs 325 to 4,200 a month: Dr Reddy's, Sun Pharma, Glenmark kick off generic semaglutide price war, 21 March 2026
- Outlook Business, One goal, 50 brands: inside the scramble for India's post-patent semaglutide market, 9 April 2026 (updated 13 April)
- Business Today, Novo further cuts semaglutide prices as generics enter India, 31 March 2026
- Business Today, Novo Nordisk cuts Wegovy prices by 37% to counter Lilly's Mounjaro, 11 November 2025
- The Korea Times, Lilly launches Mounjaro in India, 20 March 2025
- Health Canada, Canada becomes the first G7 country to approve a generic version of semaglutide, 28 April 2026
- Health Canada, Canada approves second generic semaglutide, 1 May 2026
- Health Canada, Canada approves first generic semaglutide for weight loss, 29 June 2026
- BioSpace, Teva announces launch of authorized generic of Victoza (liraglutide injection 1.8mg) in the United States, 24 June 2024
Related reports
This page is market information, not medical advice. Figures are quoted from the sources linked above; forecasts are labelled as such.