GLP‑1 price war erupts
Indian manufacturers have flooded global markets with cheaper versions of Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, undercutting branded pricing by up to 70% and forcing Novo to announce its own price cuts. The FDA also fast‑tracked a higher 7.2mg Wegovy dose in 54 days under a new priority pathway, adding regulatory momentum to an already turbulent market. (reuters.com) (pharmtech.com)
India’s semaglutide patent in India expired March 20, 2026, and at least 10 domestic firms — including Dr. Reddy’s, Sun Pharma, Zydus, Natco, Alkem, Torrent, Glenmark, Lupin, Eris and USV — moved quickly to launch branded generics. (business-standard.com) Market trackers expect more than 40 manufacturers and upwards of 50 branded generics to enter India within weeks, a wave Nomura estimates could create roughly a ₹12,000‑crore opportunity over the next five years. (business-standard.com) Reported launch pricing varies sharply by player: Natco listed an injectable starting at ₹1,290 per month (~$14) with an expected pen option near ₹4,500 per month. (bloomberg.com) Sun Pharma disclosed a weekly-dose price as low as ₹750 (about ₹3,400 per month) for its semaglutide starter dose, while Dr. Reddy’s priced a disposable‑pen format at roughly ₹4,200 per month. (cnbc.com) Several players are differentiating on delivery: Zydus and Alkem introduced reusable pens (Zydus’s device allows dose adjustment), and Torrent emerged as an early entrant in the oral semaglutide segment. (business-standard.com) Dr. Reddy’s said it plans to export to Canada, Turkey and Brazil and is targeting annual sales of about 12 million semaglutide pens across markets in the first year. (cnbc.com) Novo Nordisk told investors in early February that sales and operating profit for 2026 could fall between 5% and 13% at constant exchange rates, citing rising competition and pricing pressure in GLP‑1s. (pharmaphorum.com)
