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Informist, Monday, Mar. 9, 2026

 

--Delhi HC bench allows Dr Reddy's to export semaglutide to some nations 

--CONTEXT: HC order on Novo Nordisk plea against Dr Reddy's on semaglutide sale 

 

NEW DELHI – The division bench of the Delhi High Court Monday upheld a single-judge bench's Dec. 2 order that allowed Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. and its contract manufacturer OneSource Speciality Pharma Ltd. to manufacture their version of diabetes and obesity drug 'semaglutide' and export the same to countries where Novo Nordisk has not been granted a patent for the drug. 

 

The division bench of Justice C. Hari Shankar and Justice Om Prakash Shukla said there was a credible challenge to the validity of Novo Nordisk's patent on semaglutide. "We therefore, see no reason to disturb the impugned judgment of the learned single judge. The appeal is dismissed," said the bench.

 

According to media reports, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories was preparing to launch a generic version of semaglutide in India on Mar. 21. It will be launched at a competitive price aimed at deepening access and boosting sales of the weight-loss and diabetic molecule, the reports had said. 

 

The generic versions of semaglutide could be priced at INR 4,000-INR 5,000 per month, according to estimates from the industry. This is nearly half the cost of the innovator brands, which fall between INR 8,800 and around INR 16,000 depending on the dosage. The company plans to launch the generic version of semaglutide in more than 70 countries over the next two years and has already obtained regulatory clarity in India and a Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product, which enables further international filings. 

 

Currently, Novo Nordisk sells 'Wegovy' and 'Rybelsus' using its patent on the drug semaglutide and it recently launched its

once-a-week diabetes medicine Ozempic in India for people with type-II diabetes. Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk held a primary consumption patent for semaglutide, which expired in September 2024. However, Novo Nordisk still holds the secondary patent in India relating to the manufacturing process and delivery mechanism of semaglutide drug, which is valid till the end of this month.

 

Over a period of time, the single judge had allowed companies like Dr. Reddy's, Natco Pharma Ltd., MSN Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Zydus Lifesciences Ltd. and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. to manufacture and export their version of 'semaglutide' to some nations. However, the judge had asked these companies to not sell their version of the semaglutide drug in India till March 2026, when Novo Nordisk's patent for the drug will expire.

 

At 1517 IST, the shares of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories were down 1.3% at INR 1,286.80 on the National Stock Exchange.  End

 

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Vandana Hingorani

 

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