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Informist, Friday, Mar. 20, 2026

 

MUMBAI – Pharmaceutical stocks are expected to be in a range next week amid a weak market. However, shares of major companies may rise on investor optimism about the sales prospects of generic semaglutide. While the pricing of these drugs will be very aggressive, low market penetration and expectations of a 15–20% market share in the next 12–18 months will provide an adequate opportunity, analysts said. Rising crude oil prices and fears of natural gas shortages are weighing on equity investor sentiment, but some technical analysts say pharma stocks may be good bets in this volatile market.

 

Semaglutide falls in the class of glucagon-like-peptide-1 drugs and is the active ingredient behind blockbuster weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy. The drug's patent is set to expire on Friday, which will unleash a wave of generic replacements. More than 50 branded generic versions of semaglutide are expected to hit the Indian market soon after the patent expiry, according to analysts. This has led to a scramble to capitalise on the market share among pharmaceutical companies such as Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Cipla, Zydus Lifesciences, and Lupin. 

 

Currently, branded semaglutide therapies in India cost between INR 8,000 and INR 16,000 per month, depending on the dosage and formulation. Generic versions are expected to cost roughly INR 3,000 to INR 4,000 per month in the initial phase, Mehul Sheth, research analyst at HDFC Securities, said. Some analysts expect a steeper decline in prices over time. In line with these expectations, Natco Pharma will launch semaglutide injection in the Indian market on Saturday at a price range of INR 1,290 to INR 1,750 per vial.
 

The Nifty Pharma index has continued to hover within the congestion range of 23600–22000. A break on either side of this range is essential for the next short-term move in that direction, Vipin Kumaar, senior technical and derivatives analyst at Globe Capital Markets, said. In the week ended Friday, the Nifty Pharma index ended 1.3% lower at 22540.70 points. JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories gained the most among the Nifty Pharma constituents, rising around 0.5-1.0% during the week, while Mankind Pharma, Cipla, and Ajanta Pharma ended 4-6% lower. 

 

TOP HEADLINES

 

* US FDA tags Aurobindo Pharma arm's mfg unit as 'voluntary action indicated'
* Natco Pharma to launch Semaglutide in India Sat; starting price INR 1,290
* Cipla to invest $100 mln in Cipla EU to meet capex needs of InvaGen Pharma
* Zydus Life launches foldable spacer to improve inhaler drug delivery
* Glenmark Pharma gets US FDA final nod for fluticasone propionate nasal spray
* Lupin arm announces capacity expansion at mfg facility in Gujarat
* Alkem Lab to set up greenfield formulations unit in Ujjain for INR 5.33 bln
* Natco Pharma board to meet on Mar 24 to demerge agrochem division into arm
* Zydus Life, Torrent Pharma in pact to co-mkt Semaglutide injection in India
* Mankind Pharma buys India mfg, selling rights for Rivotril from Swiss Roche
* AstraZeneca Pharma gets nod to import Durvalumab solution for sale in India
* DCGI gets contempt notice for no decision on diabetes drug use for weight loss
* Zydus, Lupin sign pact to co-market semaglutide injection in India
* HC pulls up patent dept for not ruling on Novartis' plea for 15 years
* Zydus Life US arm inks pact with Korean co PRG S&T to licence Progerinin
* Why SEBI hindering probe closure against Sterling Bio former directors - SC
* GSK Pharma CFO resigns on appointment as GSK Group Asia Pacific finance head
* US FDA accepts Sun Pharma's ILUMYA supplemental biologics licence application
* Glenmark Pharma arm to launch potassium phosphate injections
* Alkem Lab gets good mfg practice certificate from German pharmacy department
* Zydus Lifesciences gets approval from China regulator for Desidustat drug
* Dr Reddy's partner Immutep halts Phase III lung cancer trial post review

 

The following are the resistance and support levels for key pharmaceutical stocks for next week as per calculations based on their prices on the National Stock Exchange:

 

Company	Price	Week-on-Week Change in %	Resistance	Support
Abbott India	26,715.00	(-)0.90	27,025.00	26,245.00
Alkem Laboratories	5,257.50	(-)1.80	5,343.20	5,168.20
Aurobindo Pharma	1,291.40	(-)0.40	1,322.00	1,243.00
Biocon	380.95	(-)0.70	390.60	365.20
Cipla	1,256.40	(-)4.40	1,272.10	1,240.10
Divi's Laboratories	6,100.00	0.50	6,253.00	5,954.00
Dr Reddy's Laboratories	1,298.90	0.50	1,317.50	1,278.90
Gland Pharma	1,627.10	0.00	1,659.20	1,571.60
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals	2,384.80	(-)1.60	2,441.30	2,334.30
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals	2,180.10	0.40	2,241.20	2,079.60
Granules India	590.95	5.10	602.50	576.20
Ipca Laboratories	1,544.90	(-)1.10	1,612.40	1,471.80
Laurus Labs	987.20	(-)1.60	1,014.90	939.10
Lupin	2,322.50	0.30	2,381.20	2,235.80
Natco Pharma	959.20	0.40	984.30	935.70
Pfizer	4,773.50	3.30	4,865.50	4,658.50
Sanofi India	3,386.10	(-)3.30	3,470.20	3,334.40
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries	1,777.10	(-)1.40	1,797.90	1,743.90
Torrent Pharmaceuticals	4,270.20	(-)2.70	4,371.10	4,155.30
Zydus Lifesciences	890.50	(-)1.70	904.70	873.10
Index	Levels
Nifty Pharma	22540.70	(-)1.30	22839.30	22119.20
Nifty 50	23114.50	(-)0.20	23453.30	22898.20
S&P BSE Sensex	74532.96	(-)0.00	75636.10	73833.40

 

End

 

Reported by Eshitva Prakash

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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