India Emerges as Hub in Global Weight-Loss Drug Race

Quick Summary

• India’s Role in Weight Management Drugs:

– India is emerging as a significant market for innovative anti-obesity drugs and a hub for affordable generics production.
– Rising obesity, patent expirations, and government incentives have made this possible.

• Innovative Drugs Launched:

– Eli Lilly launched Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) in March 2025 with monthly costs between ₹14,000-17,500; June sales rose to ₹50 crore.- Novo Nordisk advanced its Wegovy (Semaglutide) launch to June 2025. monthly costs are around ₹17,345 for earlier doses and up to ₹26,015 for higher doses.

• Patent Expirations & Generics Boom:

– Patents on semaglutide in Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic/Wegovy expire starting January 2026 globally and sooner in India.
– Indian firms like Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Biocon, Cipla, Sun Pharma are preparing generic versions targeting potential billion-dollar markets.

• Government support:

– Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes encourage domestic manufacturing of complex drugs like GLP-1 receptor agonists used to treat obesity/diabetes.
– Pharmaceuticals received ₹2,328 crore support under PLI schemes in FY25.

• Growing Market Dynamics:

– India’s GLP-1 market was valued at $110.55M (₹628 crore approx.) in mid-2024; it is indeed expected to grow at a CAGR of ~34% into one of the fastest-growing pharma segments domestically reaching beyond.~ ((*Per company’s Global ))

anticipated blockbusters leading ahead =( expiring ) would new