SUNPHARMA

By Rishika Sadam

HYDERABAD, India, April 3 (Reuters) - Soon-to-be brides and grooms seeking shortcuts to shed pounds before the big day have become the latest consumer target for weight-loss drugs in India.

New Delhi wellness clinic Klarity Skin Clinic touts a "Mounjaro bride" package, while other clinics have woven weight-loss injections into "pre-wedding" transformation packages typically focused on skin treatments and hairstyle makeovers.

In a social media video, Klarity offers "guided nutrition, Mounjaro and smart workouts" to prepare brides to walk down the aisle. The clinic did not respond to a request for comment.

Eight doctors interviewed by Reuters said they have been fielding inquiries from brides, and some grooms, about taking weight-loss drugs before taking their vows. Many asked for Eli Lilly's LLY.N Mounjaro, the first GLP-1 medication to enter India's market for both diabetes and weight loss. It has become more sought after than Novo Nordisk's NOVOb.CO rival Wegovy, the doctors said.

"Over the last few months, over 20% of the queries we've received for obesity injections are from to-be brides, who also openly give us a timeline on how soon they are getting married," said Rajat Goel, a bariatric surgeon at Hindivine Healthcare in New Delhi.

He said he prescribed the drugs only if patients were medically eligible, not for cosmetic use.

TRADITION AND SOCIETAL PRESSURE

Weddings in India are grand affairs for families that can afford them, with culture and tradition exerting a strong influence. Many marriages continue to be arranged by families, often bringing expectations around physical appearance and financial status.

Aditi, a 26-year-old finance worker from Mumbai, consulted a doctor in November for a weight-loss prescription after exercise and diet failed to get the desired results.

"When I see the result, I feel happy,” Aditi said about losing 10 kilograms (22 pounds) on Mounjaro before her February wedding. "If I am not happy, I don't feel confident. I did not want to feel that way at the time of the wedding."

She is one of the half a dozen brides, and one groom, who spoke to Reuters about pre-wedding use of weight-loss drugs, but asked not to use their family names due to social stigmas. They cited societal pressure to look a "certain way" at their wedding and most had discontinued the injections soon after.

Novo and Lilly launched their obesity drugs in India last year. The market is forecast to reach 80 billion rupees ($851.79 million) by 2030. Mounjaro sales doubled in the months after launch, making it the highest-selling drug in the world's most populous nation.

Indian drugmakers began selling cheaper versions of Novo's medicine last month after the patent on semaglutide, its active ingredient, expired, widening access.

The drugs are intended for adults classified as obese, or for those considered overweight with a weight-related medical condition such as diabetes, hypertension or sleep apnea.

"Mounjaro has been approved by regulators for specific medical indications and is intended to be used only under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional," Lilly said in a statement.

The lowest Mounjaro injection pen dose sells for 13,125 rupees ($139.50) per month in India, while the highest dose costs 25,781 rupees.

Novo, which this week cut prices of Ozempic and Wegovy for the second time, is selling the lowest Wegovy dose for 5,660 rupees ($60.90) and the highest for 16,400 rupees a month.

Novo said it discourages any form of self-medication of semaglutide or deviation from the indicated use on label.

CHEAPER DRUGS, MISUSE CONCERNS

India could have more than 440 million overweight or obese people by 2050, one of the world's highest totals, according to The Lancet.

Akshitha, who got married in Hyderabad last year, said the drugs helped her shed 15 kg (33 pounds), taking her weight to 76 kg before the wedding. A family doctor had suggested she try the injections when she worried about her weight, she said.

"There's so much chaos before the wedding, with all the planning and preparation. I knew I would not get time to go to the gym and be on a diet. That's when these drugs looked like a better option," she said, adding she might consider using them again after a future pregnancy.

With local drugmakers flooding the market with cheaper weight-loss medicines, India's drugs regulator has raised concerns about misuse and intensified scrutiny of unauthorized sales and promotion.

"We understand the curiosity, but this cannot be a quick fix," said Dr. Swati Pradhan, founder of obesity and metabolic wellness clinic Live Light.

Pradhan said she prescribed the injections to only a few soon-to-be brides if they were medically eligible and showed signs of other medical issues, while insisting on lifestyle changes for sustainable results.

For 27-year-old Priya, a tech worker from Bengaluru, weight-loss drugs became a way to counter body-shaming from prospective grooms' families.

"I've had men and their families reject my proposal because of my weight. I was told I was fat," Priya told Reuters.

She initially used Novo's oral semaglutide, approved in India for diabetes, as an off-label treatment and lost more than 12 kg before switching to injectable Mounjaro.

Her search for a groom continues.

($1 = 94.0850 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam in Hyderabad; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

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Adds details, background, comments

By Rishika Sadam

March 31 (Reuters) - Novo Nordisk NOVOb.CO has again cut the prices of its blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy by up to 36% and 48% in India, to fend off competition from cheaper generics made by local drugmakers.

India's market for diabetes and weight-loss drugs is set for a shake-up after the Danish drugmaker's patent on semaglutide, the active component in Ozempic and Wegovy, expired on March 20.

At least half a dozen Indian drugmakers, including Dr Reddy's REDY.NS, Zydus ZYDU.NS and Sun Pharma SUN.NS, launched multiple brands of the blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drugs, up to 70% cheaper than Novo's drugs in some cases.

Ozempic's and Wegovy's lowest doses of 0.25 mg in India will now be priced at 1,415 rupees ($15.04) for a weekly shot from 2,200 rupees and 2,712 rupees earlier, respectively, Novo Nordisk India said in a statement on Tuesday.

The average price reduction across doses is 23.8% for Ozempic and 27% for Wegovy, it said.

"We've heard from patients and doctors, and we're acting on that feedback," said Vikrant Shrotriya, managing director at Novo Nordisk India, adding that the drugs also offer cardiovascular benefits.

The entry of generics will also challenge Novo and U.S. rival Eli Lilly LLY.N, which launched its blockbuster diabetes and obesity drugs in India last year, as they seek to cement their position in the country.

Lilly's Mounjaro became India's top-selling drug by value within months of its launch, according to data from Pharmarack, a research firm.

Novo's Ozempic is available in three dose strengths of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg in India, while Wegovy has five dose strengths.

Ozempic's and Wegovy's 1 mg weekly shot is now priced at 2,275 rupees ($24.18) after price cuts of 18.5% and 34.2%, respectively. The company slashed Wegovy's 0.5 mg dose price by 41.5% to 2,025 rupees.

"..this price reduction reflects how innovation can become more accessible when market dynamics evolve," Venu Gopal Pareek, a bariatric surgeon said, adding that patients might choose Novo's drugs over generics given that it is an original molecule, and if the price difference is not beyond 15%.

Last year, Novo slashed Wegovy's price for the first time by up to 37% from its launch price, anticipating stiff competition from local drugmakers.

($1 = 93.9890 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam and Yagnoseni Das in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath and Janane Venkatraman)

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March 27 (Reuters) - SUN PHARMA:

• PARTNER PHILOGEN'S PHASE II FLASH STUDY IN SOFT TISSUE SARCOMA DID NOT MEET PRIMARY ENDPOINT

• PHILOGEN'S PHASE II GLIOSTAR TRIAL IN GLIOBLASTOMA DID NOT MEET PRIMARY ENDPOINT

• PHILOGEN REMAINS COMMITTED TO EXECUTION OF GLIOSUN CLINICAL TRIAL

Source text: ID:nBSE70fvgH

Further company coverage: PHIL.MI

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Adds background, details from statement

March 24 (Reuters) - India's drug regulator has tightened surveillance against the unauthorised sale and promotion of weight-loss drugs, the health ministry said on Tuesday, after local drugmakers launched cheaper generic versions of Ozempic and Wegovy over the weekend.

At least half a dozen Indian drugmakers, including Dr Reddy's REDY.NS, Zydus ZYDU.NS and Sun Pharma SUN.NS, launched multiple brands of the blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drugs, up to 70% cheaper than Novo Nordisk's drugs in some cases, after the patent for semaglutide expired last week.

Semaglutide is the active component in Ozempic and Wegovy.

The patent expiry had triggered concerns about misuse and confusion among prescribers as costs fall sharply.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) conducted inspections at 49 entities across the country, including drug wholesalers, retailers, and slimming clinics, the statement said.

It focused on identifying violations related to unauthorised sale, improper prescription practices, and misleading marketing, the statement said, adding that notices were sent to defaulting entities.

"These drugs, when used without proper medical supervision, may lead to serious adverse effects and related health risks," the statement said, adding that there have been concerns regarding their on-demand availability across various platforms.

Earlier this month, the CDSCO also warned pharmaceutical companies against direct or indirect advertising of weight-loss medicines, including obesity awareness campaigns that could act as surrogate promotions.

Analysts had expected more than 40 Indian drugmakers to launch over 50 brands after patent expiry, as they race to grab a share of the market that could grow to 80 billion rupees ($852.62 million) by 2030 from about 15 billion rupees today, according to research firm Pharmarack.

($1 = 93.8280 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam in Hyderabad and Urvi Dugar in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Janane Venkatraman)

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March 23 (Reuters) - At least half a dozen Indian generic drugmakers launched cheaper versions of Novo Nordisk's NOVOb.CO blockbuster diabetes drug Ozempic and weight‑loss drug Wegovy over the weekend, at globally unmatched prices and slashing treatment costs by about 70%.

The patent for semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo's drugs, expired in India last week, paving the way for drugmakers to flood the market with dozens of brands.

Analysts expect more than 40 Indian drugmakers to launch over 50 cheaper variants.

Large Indian drugmakers are racing to capture a share of the global obesity market, projected to be worth about $100 billion by the end of the decade. They are eyeing overseas markets, including Canada, Brazil, Latin America, and Turkey, for future launches.

Here is a list of Indian drugmakers that have launched generic semaglutide in recent days:

SUN PHARMACEUTICAL SUN.NS

India's largest drugmaker by revenue launched semaglutide injectable under the brand name Noveltreat for chronic weight management in five dose strengths from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg and Sematrinity in two dose strengths for type 2 diabetes. Noveltreat is expected to cost around 900 to 2000 rupees ($9.58-$21.30) for weekly treatment, and Sematrinity will cost 750 to 1300 rupees ($7.99-$13.84), the company said.

DR REDDY'S LABORATORIES REDY.NS

The Hyderabad-based drugmaker launched semaglutide under the brand name Obeda for diabetes in 2 mg and 4 mg dose strengths in a disposable pen device format. Each pen of both strengths will deliver a minimum of four weekly doses and cost about 4200 rupees ($44.73) per month, the company said.

ZYDUS LIFESCIENCES ZYDU.NS

The company launched generic injectable semaglutide under three different brand names- Semaglyn, Mashema, and Alterme - for diabetes and obesity treatment in a reusable pen device. The average monthly cost of the treatment will be approximately 2,200 rupees ($23.43), the company said.

TORRENT PHARMACEUTICALS TORP.NS

The company launched an oral and injectable semaglutide drug under the brand names Sembolic and Semalix. The starting price for the injectable drugs would be 3,999 rupees ($42.59) per month, the company said.

GLENMARK PHARMACEUTICALS GLEN.NS

Glenmark launched injectable semaglutide, branded as GLIPIQ, in vial and pen formats for diabetes treatment. The vial is estimated to cost around 1,300 to 1,760 rupees for a month's usage. ($13.84-$18.74).

ALKEM LABORATORIES ALKE.NS

The company said its semaglutide, launched under three brand names - Semasize, Obesema, and Hepaglide - will be available in a pre-filled disposable injection pen and cost starting at 1,800 rupees ($19.17) per month.

ERIS LIFESCIENCES ERIS.NS

The company launched generic semaglutide in a vial format named 'Sundae.' The starting price for the multi-dose vials is 1,290 rupees ($13.74) per month. Eris is also in partnership with Natco Pharma NATP.NS, which has also launched its own generic semaglutide, for commercial manufacturing of the drug.

($1 = 93.9000 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam; Editing by Rashmi Aich)

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March 20 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd SUN.NS:

• SUN PHARMA - LAUNCHES ITS SEMAGLUTIDE INJECTION UNDER BRAND NAMES, NOVELTREAT AND SEMATRINITY IN INDIA

• SUN PHARMA - PHARMA LAUNCHES SEMAGLUTIDE INJECTION UNDER NOVELTREAT AND SEMATRINITY IN INDIA

• SUN PHARMA - NOVELTREAT WEEKLY THERAPY COSTS 900 RUPEES-2,000 RUPEES; SEMATRINITY 750 RUPEES-1,300 RUPEES

• SUN PHARMA - SEMATRINITY IS AVAILABLE IN TWO DOSE STRENGTHS - 2 MG/1.5 ML AND 4 MG/3 ML

• SUN PHARMA: NOVELTREAT IS AVAILABLE IN FIVE DOSE STRENGTHS 0.25 MG/0.5 ML, 0.5 MG/0.5 ML, 1 MG/0.5 ML, 1.7 MG/0.75 ML, AND 2.4 MG/0.75 ML

Source text: ID:nBSE3g9RJQ

Further company coverage: SUN.NS

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By Rishika Sadam

HYDERABAD, March 19 (Reuters) - India's market for diabetes and weight-loss drugs is set for a shake-up as Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk's NOVOb.CO patent on semaglutide expires this week, triggering a wave of cheaper generics from local drugmakers and worries about uneven oversight in an overcrowded market.

More than 40 Indian firms are expected to launch over 50 brands within weeks, analysts and doctors said, widening access in a price-sensitive market, but also raising concerns about misuse and confusion among prescribers as costs fall sharply.

Sun Pharma SUN.NS, Mankind Pharma MNKI.NS, Dr. Reddy's REDY.NS, Zydus ZYDU.NS, Lupin LUPN.NS and Alkem ALKE.NS are among the companies expected to launch generic versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo's diabetes drug Ozempic and weight-loss treatment Wegovy.

"With high demand, falling prices and multiple brands, you may see direct pharmacy purchases, distributor-level leakages, or cosmetic or lifestyle use especially in urban markets," said Salil Kallianpur, an independent analyst.

"This could lead to misuse, poor titration and unmanaged side effects and eventually regulatory tightening."

India's drug regulator did not respond to a request for comment. Semaglutide is a prescription drug, but enforcement in India has often been uneven, with doctors and pharmacists playing a key gatekeeping role.

The entry of generics will also challenge Novo and U.S. rival Eli Lilly LLY.N, which launched blockbuster diabetes and obesity drugs in India last year, as they seek to cement their position in the country.

Lilly's Mounjaro became India's top-selling drug by value within months of launch, according to data from Pharmarack, a research firm.

India, the world's most populous nation, has the second-highest number of adults with diabetes after China and could have more than 440 million overweight or obese people by 2050, according to The Lancet, a medical journal, and the International Diabetes Federation.

India's obesity drug market could grow to 80 billion rupees ($856.6 million) by 2030 from about 15 billion rupees today, according to Pharmarack estimates.

EYES ON THE PRICE

Indian generic drugmakers, known globally for producing low-cost medicines, are expected to price their generics at discounts of at least 50% to 60%.

Analysts say monthly prices for the lowest dose could fall from about 11,000 rupees to 3,000 to 5,000 rupees as early generics arrive and eventually to around 1,500 to 2,500 rupees, expanding access beyond a niche urban elite.

"I will consult my doctor to check if I can move to using a generic version, as that appears to be lighter on the pocket," said 32-year-old Vishal, a tech worker from Hyderabad, who is considering a switch from Wegovy.

Many other patients in India's out-of-pocket market have also begun enquiring about cheaper options, some of which are expected to launch as soon as Saturday, the day after Novo's patent expires.

"The price range being quoted is broadly 2,500 to 3,500 rupees, which is quite low," said bariatric surgeon Venugopal Pareek. Six of his patients are waiting for generic versions to switch from Novo or Lilly drugs.

Lower prices are expected to expand the patient pool.

"Onboarding of patients from lower economic strata may happen on branded generics," said Sheetal Sapale, commercial vice president at Pharmarack, noting that company profits would depend on pricing discipline.

Novo and Lilly did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for a comment.

DOCTORS' CHOICE

Even as prices fall, analysts say the winner in the market will depend not just on cost, but also on doctor confidence.

India's pharmaceutical market is heavily driven by physician prescriptions and uptake will depend on doctors' familiarity and confidence in individual brands.

An initial glut of products is likely to overwhelm prescribers, analysts said, with uneven experiences and aggressive marketing.

Many generic drugmakers are opting for brand names that incorporate "sema," which could also add to confusion.

Over time, analysts expect doctors' trust to consolidate around a handful of players offering reliable supply, quality delivery devices and consistent outcomes.

"Weaker players with poor quality and no differentiation will likely exit within two to three years," Kallianpur said.

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam; Editing by Dhanya Skariachan and Thomas Derpinghaus)

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March 16 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd SUN.NS:

• SUN PHARMA - US FDA ACCEPTS SBLA FOR ILUMYA FOR ACTIVE PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

• SUN PHARMA - FDA REGULATORY ACTION DATE FOR THIS SBLA IS EXPECTED BY OCT 29 2026

Source text: ID:nBSE9fxgD

Further company coverage: SUN.NS

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Repeats story from 13th Feburary with no changes to text

By Rishika Sadam

Feb 16 (Reuters) - Biocon BION.NS is aiming for high-double-digit percentage revenue growth as the Indian pharmaceutical firm prepares to launch generic versions of weight-loss drugs globally even as it remains cautious about an early rollout in the home market, a top company executive told Reuters.

The company is counting on demand for obesity medicines as it expands a pipeline that includes copycat versions of Novo Nordisk's NOVOb.CO Wegovy, whose patent for semaglutide in a few markets expires in 2026.

Indian drugmakers, including Dr Reddy's REDY.NS, Lupin LUPN.NS, Sun Pharmaceutical SUN.NS and at least half a dozen others are racing to bring cheaper copies to markets once the active compound goes off patent.

Bengaluru-based Biocon is targeting a U.S. launch of generic liraglutide in the first quarter of the next financial year, CEO Siddharth Mittal said in an interview on Friday. Liraglutide is also used for obesity treatment.

It aims to launch generic Wegovy in Canada next year, subject to regulatory approval, Mittal said. It is also planning launches over the next few years in India, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, and parts of the Middle East and Latin America.

The company, however, is cautious about an early start in India due to fierce price competition and local clinical trial requirements, Mittal said.

"There's going to be fierce competition in India," Mittal said, citing low price expectations. He said Biocon is exploring approval in a specific overseas market first, which could help it seek a clinical trial waiver in India under local rules.

In India, Biocon would need to run a late-stage clinical trial before launch. The company is weighing whether that cost would be justified, Mittal said, or whether it should seek a waiver.

The obesity medicines market, according to several forecasts, is expected to reach at least $150 billion globally by the early 2030s, and analysts expect generic versions to be priced at least 60% below the originator products.

Biocon expects high double-digit percentage revenue growth, Mittal said. The company's annual revenue grew 5.4% in fiscal 2025 from a year ago, but it has been growing in early double-digits on a quarter-on-quarter basis.

India is not Biocon's main market. The company derives significant share of revenue from the United States and parts of Europe.

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

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By Rishika Sadam

Feb 13 (Reuters) - Biocon BION.NS is aiming for high-double-digit percentage revenue growth as the Indian pharmaceutical firm prepares to launch generic versions of weight-loss drugs globally even as it remains cautious about an early rollout in the home market, a top company executive told Reuters.

The company is counting on demand for obesity medicines as it expands a pipeline that includes copycat versions of Novo Nordisk's NOVOb.CO Wegovy, whose patent for semaglutide in a few markets expires in 2026.

Indian drugmakers, including Dr Reddy's REDY.NS, Lupin LUPN.NS, Sun Pharmaceutical SUN.NS and at least half a dozen others are racing to bring cheaper copies to markets once the active compound goes off patent.

Bengaluru-based Biocon is targeting a U.S. launch of generic liraglutide in the first quarter of the next financial year, CEO Siddharth Mittal said in an interview on Friday. Liraglutide is also used for obesity treatment.

It aims to launch generic Wegovy in Canada next year, subject to regulatory approval, Mittal said. It is also planning launches over the next few years in India, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, and parts of the Middle East and Latin America.

The company, however, is cautious about an early start in India due to fierce price competition and local clinical trial requirements, Mittal said.

"There's going to be fierce competition in India," Mittal said, citing low price expectations. He said Biocon is exploring approval in a specific overseas market first, which could help it seek a clinical trial waiver in India under local rules.

In India, Biocon would need to run a late-stage clinical trial before launch. The company is weighing whether that cost would be justified, Mittal said, or whether it should seek a waiver.

The obesity medicines market, according to several forecasts, is expected to reach at least $150 billion globally by the early 2030s, and analysts expect generic versions to be priced at least 60% below the originator products.

Biocon expects high double-digit percentage revenue growth, Mittal said. The company's annual revenue grew 5.4% in fiscal 2025 from a year ago, but it has been growing in early double-digits on a quarter-on-quarter basis.

India is not Biocon's main market. The company derives significant share of revenue from the United States and parts of Europe.

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

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SHANGHAI, Jan 27 (Reuters) - China's medicine regulator has ordered a halt to the import, sale and usage of a drug used to treat dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease made by India's Sun Pharmaceutical Industries SUN.NS, according to an announcement posted on Monday.

The National Medical Products Administration said a recent remote inspection found shortcomings in the company's production processes, including in the prevention of contamination and the quality management department's fulfillment of duties.

The body banned the sale of Sun Pharma's rivastigmine hydrogen tartrate capsules.

A spokesperson for Sun Pharma, India's largest drugmaker by revenue, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter to Sun Pharma alleging "significant violations" of "current good manufacturing practice" regulations for pharmaceuticals made at the same production site in India, according to the U.S. regulator's website.

Rivastigmine capsules have been used as a dementia treatment in China, one study showed.

(Reporting by Andrew Silver; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus)

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Rewrites to add new information throughout

By Rishika Sadam and Kashish Tandon

Jan 23 (Reuters) - Indian drugmakers Sun Pharmaceutical Industries SUN.NS, Zydus Lifesciences ZYDU.NS and Alkem Laboratories ALKE.NS have received approval from India's regulator to manufacture and sell generic versions of blockbuster weight-loss and diabetes drugs Wegovy and Ozempic.

Data on the regulator's website show Zydus Lifesciences ZYDU.NS and Alkem Laboratories ALKE.NS received approval last week to manufacture and sell generic semaglutide for weight-loss and diabetes treatment, intensifying competition in the obesity-drug race in the world's most populous nation.

The companies, which are yet to announce the approval, did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for a comment.

Sun Pharma, which is India's largest drugmaker by revenue, on Friday announced that it had been granted approval and would be launching generics under brand names Noveltreat for obesity and Sematrinity for diabetes.

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk's NOVOb.CO Wegovy and its diabetes drug Ozempic, is set for patent expiry in March 2026.

The upcoming patent expiry for semaglutide opens the door for Indian generic drugmakers to enter the weight-loss market with cheaper versions of both Wegovy and Ozempic at steep discounts.

Last year, U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly LLY.N launched Mounjaro in India, while Novo introduced Wegovy and Ozempic. Sales of the innovator drugs doubled shortly after launch.

The global weight-loss drug market is projected to reach $150 billion by the end of the decade.

Ozempic, though mainly approved for type 2 diabetes, is also used off-label for weight loss due to its appetite-suppressing effects.

Earlier this week, Dr Reddy's Laboratories REDY.NS said it had obtained approval to sell the generic version of Ozempic.

"The generic players will come in with lower prices and expand the number of people they can reach out to given their aggressive marketing strategy," said Vishal Manchanda, an analyst with Systematix Institutional Equities, adding that there are at least a dozen other generic companies awaiting approvals.

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam in Hyderabad and Kashish Tandon in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Tasim Zahid)

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Jan 19 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd SUN.NS:

• SUN PHARMA - STATES ORGANON ACQUISITION NEWS IS SPECULATIVE

Source text: ID:nBSE9W7LSZ

Further company coverage: SUN.NS

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The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are her own. Refiles to change editing credits.

By Shrabani Chakraborty

BENGALURU, Jan 9 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Novo Nordisk NOVOb.CO is fuelling an obesity drug war in India. Last month, the $229 billion Danish drugmaker launched its blockbuster remedy Ozempic into the world’s fifth-largest economy. The once-weekly jab costs a mere 8,800 rupees ($97.94) per month, a staggering discount compared to the U.S. where the same prescription can cost nearly $500. Competition from arch rival Eli Lilly LLY.N and a looming patent cliff will play out on a larger scale in the U.S. in the coming years.

India's obesity levels are rising sharply. In the past three decades, urbanisation encouraged more sedentary lifestyles and diets have shifted towards ultra-processed foods. By 2022, about 24% of India’s population was classified as either overweight or obese, and the situation is expected to get worse. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described obesity as a “silent crisis” and reckoned that it could affect nearly 440 million Indians by 2050, or around a third of today's 1.4 billion population. To tackle the problem, he urged families to cut 10% of cooking oil use and adopt regular exercise.

This healthcare dilemma, however, has created an opportunity for obesity drug giants. In the past year, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have launched Mounjaro and Wegovy, respectively, in the Indian market. But a price war escalated quickly. In March 2025, Mounjaro began selling its injectable drug at 14,000–17,500 rupees per month. Novo Nordisk then followed with Wegovy in June at 10,850 rupees per month. As these drugs gained popularity, Ozempic debuted in December 2025 at 8,800 rupees per month, positioning itself as the most affordable option in India.

This pricing strategy is about fending off competition from all angles. Generic drugmakers like Dr. Reddy's REDY.NS and Sun Pharma SUN.NS are scrambling to develop copycat versions of Novo's drugs once the key patent expires in March 2026. But if the Danish group’s drugs are also ultra cheap, the generic rivals are unlikely to take much market share.

Novo may need to adopt a similar strategy in the U.S. In 2031, the patent on the key ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy will expire, which is likely to trigger intense competition from generic drugmakers. According to Visible Alpha data, Novo Nordisk's revenue will dip 0.33% in 2032 and 1.95% in 2033. But if an India-style price war breaks out, the sales decline may be much more dramatic. Investors have good reason to use India’s weight-loss drug showdown as a warning, not an outlier.

Follow Shrabani Chakraborty on X and LinkedIn.

CONTEXT NEWS

Novo Nordisk launched Ozempic in India on December 12, pricing the 0.25 mg dose at $24.35 per week.

Ozempic will be sold in pen format in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg doses, with each pen covering four weekly doses.

Monthly prices are 8,800 rupees for 0.25 mg, 10,170 rupees for 0.5 mg and 11,175 rupees for 1 mg doses.

(Editing by Aimee Donnellan; Production by Aditya Srivastav)

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Nov 12 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd SUN.NS:

• PRESENTS DATA FROM PHASE 1B/2A STUDY OF GL0034

• 13 WEEKS OF UTREGLUTIDE DOSING IN INDIVIDUALS WITH OBESITY, MASLD SHOWED SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT REDUCTION

Source text: ID:nBSE3tQp7v

Further company coverage: SUN.NS

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This is an excerpt of the Health Rounds newsletter, where we present latest medical studies on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To receive the full newsletter in your inbox for free sign up here

By Nancy Lapid

Sept 3 (Reuters) - The commonly prescribed blood thinner clopidogrel should replace aspirin as a routine pill for preventing heart attacks and strokes in people who already have at least some degree of heart disease, researchers reported at the European Society of Cardiology Congress.

Pooled data on nearly 29,000 patients with coronary artery disease who had participated in seven earlier randomized trials showed that those taking clopidogrel had a 14% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death, compared to those taking aspirin, during an average follow-up of 5.5 years.

“These results suggest that clopidogrel should be considered the preferred long-term antiplatelet medication for patients with established coronary artery disease,” the researchers said.

Clopidogrel is the generic name of the widely used blood clot preventer Plavix, sold by Bristol Myers Squibb BMY.N and Sanofi SASY.PA. Several companies sell generic clopidogrel including Aurobindo Pharma ARBN.NS, Sun Pharma SUN.NS and Teva Pharmaceuticals TEVA.TA.

Rates of anticoagulant-related side effects like ulcers and major bleeding were similar between the two drugs, dispelling concerns that clopidogrel might lead to more bleeding complications, the researchers said.

The researchers said their analysis included many types of patients and subgroups to ensure the findings, which were also published in The Lancet, applied broadly.

“Even patients who might respond less well to clopidogrel due to genetic or clinical factors still benefited from its use over aspirin,” the researchers said in a statement.

Because clopidogrel is widely available and inexpensive, the study’s findings have the potential to influence clinical guidelines worldwide and improve patient outcomes, the researchers said.

RECYCLED PACEMAKERS IMPROVE ACCESS IN LOW-INCOME NATIONS

Cardiac pacemaker devices can be reconditioned to provide new hope for patients in low- and middle-income countries, researchers said at the ESC meeting in Madrid.

In Kenya, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Paraguay, Sierra Leone and Venezuela, 306 patients with a life expectancy of at least two years, a clear medical need for pacemaker therapy and no financial means to acquire one were randomly assigned to receive a reconditioned pacemaker or a new pacemaker.

The researchers’ primary concern was that reconditioned devices, which had been removed from other patients, might transmit infections when re-implanted.

A year after the pacemakers were implanted, the incidence of procedure-related infections was 1.6% for those in the reconditioned pacemaker group and 3.1% for those who got new devices. The results demonstrate that the older devices were non-inferior to new ones, the researchers said in a statement.

There were no device malfunctions in either group.

The study was conducted by doctors at the University of Michigan-based Project My Heart Your Heart, which collects pacemakers removed from cadavers by funeral directors.

“Patients in many low- and middle-income countries still have very limited access to cardiac pacing despite its routine use in higher-income countries,” study leader Dr. Thomas Crawford from the University of Michigan said in a statement.

“Indeed, access to pacemaker implantation is around 200-fold lower in Africa than in Europe," Crawford said.

Project My Heart Your Heart developed a comprehensive protocol for cleaning, functional testing and sterilizing reconditioned devices, and has U.S. approval for their export to countries whose governments have provided permission for pacemaker importation, he added.

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(Reporting by Nancy Lapid; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

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By Nancy Lapid

Sept 2 (Reuters) - Hello Health Rounds readers! Today we highlight two studies presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Madrid, one that compared widely used blood thinners for preventing serious heart problems, and one that tested the safety of reusing cardiac pacemakers.

Clopidogrel tops aspirin for routine use in heart patients

The commonly prescribed blood thinner clopidogrel should replace aspirin as a routine pill for preventing heart attacks and strokes in people who already have at least some degree of heart disease, researchers reported at the European Society of Cardiology Congress.

Pooled data on nearly 29,000 patients with coronary artery disease who had participated in seven earlier randomized trials showed that those taking clopidogrel had a 14% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death, compared to those taking aspirin, during an average follow-up of 5.5 years.

“These results suggest that clopidogrel should be considered the preferred long-term antiplatelet medication for patients with established coronary artery disease,” the researchers said.

Clopidogrel is the generic name of the widely used blood clot preventer Plavix, sold by Bristol Myers Squibb BMY.N and Sanofi SASY.PA. Several companies sell generic clopidogrel including Aurobindo Pharma ARBN.NS, Sun Pharma SUN.NS and Teva Pharmaceuticals TEVA.TA.

Rates of anticoagulant-related side effects like ulcers and major bleeding were similar between the two drugs, dispelling concerns that clopidogrel might lead to more bleeding complications, the researchers said.

The researchers said their analysis included many types of patients and subgroups to ensure the findings, which were also published in The Lancet, applied broadly.

“Even patients who might respond less well to clopidogrel due to genetic or clinical factors still benefited from its use over aspirin,” the researchers said in a statement.

Because clopidogrel is widely available and inexpensive, the study’s findings have the potential to influence clinical guidelines worldwide and improve patient outcomes, the researchers said.

Recycled pacemakers improve access in low-income nations

Cardiac pacemaker devices can be reconditioned to provide new hope for patients in low- and middle-income countries, researchers said at the ESC meeting in Madrid.

In Kenya, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Paraguay, Sierra Leone and Venezuela, 306 patients with a life expectancy of at least two years, a clear medical need for pacemaker therapy and no financial means to acquire one were randomly assigned to receive a reconditioned pacemaker or a new pacemaker.

The researchers’ primary concern was that reconditioned devices, which had been removed from other patients, might transmit infections when re-implanted.

A year after the pacemakers were implanted, the incidence of procedure-related infections was 1.6% for those in the reconditioned pacemaker group and 3.1% for those who got new devices. The results demonstrate that the older devices were non-inferior to new ones, the researchers said in a statement.

There were no device malfunctions in either group.

The study was conducted by doctors at the University of Michigan-based Project My Heart Your Heart, which collects pacemakers removed from cadavers by funeral directors.

“Patients in many low- and middle-income countries still have very limited access to cardiac pacing despite its routine use in higher-income countries,” study leader Dr. Thomas Crawford from the University of Michigan said in a statement.

“Indeed, access to pacemaker implantation is around 200-fold lower in Africa than in Europe," Crawford said.

Project My Heart Your Heart developed a comprehensive protocol for cleaning, functional testing and sterilizing reconditioned devices, and has U.S. approval for their export to countries whose governments have provided permission for pacemaker importation, he added.

(Reporting by Nancy Lapid; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

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By Nancy Lapid

Aug 30 (Reuters) - A decades-old pill remains helpful for heart attack patients even with modern treatments that can prevent lasting damage to heart muscle, two large trials have shown.

Still unclear is whether all patients, or only some, benefit from so-called beta-blocker drugs, which are typically prescribed to everyone after a heart attack.

Two sharply contradictory reports were presented on Saturday at a large cardiology meeting in Madrid and published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

“It is not unusual for trials to yield different results,” said Dr. Borja Ibanez of Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III in Madrid, who led one of the trials.

“Somewhat uncommon is to see two trials with apparently divergent findings presented on the same day.”

Most important, Ibanez said, is the finding both teams agree on, which is that beta-blockers reduce the combined risk of another heart attack, heart failure, or death in patients without heart failure but with mildly impaired heart function.

The question is whether the pills are beneficial or useless for those with normally functioning hearts, who account for about 80% of patients after a first heart attack.

Beta-blocker manufacturers include Mylan, Novartis NOVN.S, Pfizer PFE.N, Abbott, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries TEVA.TA, Amneal Pharmaceuticals AMRX.O, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries SUN.NS, Lupin, ANI Pharmaceuticals ANIP.O, and Eagle Pharmaceuticals EGRX.PK.

The drugs work by inhibiting the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine, thereby lowering heart rate and blood pressure, decreasing the workload on the heart and reducing its oxygen demand.

Both new trials involved heart attack survivors whose hearts were still contracting normally, that is, the left ventricle was pumping out at least 40% of its blood with each beat. Both trials followed patients for roughly 3.5 years.

Among 5,574 volunteers in the BETAMI–DANBLOCK study from Norway and Denmark, the drugs showed a clear benefit. Patients randomly assigned to receive beta-blockers had a 15% lower risk of death or major adverse cardiovascular event, particularly a repeat heart attack, compared to patients not taking these pills, investigators found.

But among the 8,438 participants in the REBOOT trial conducted in Italy and Spain, beta-blockers had no effect on the incidence of death from any cause, a repeat heart attack, or hospitalization for heart failure, according to a separate report.

Some of the difference may be due to the fact that patients didn't all receive the same beta-blockers, and the Scandinavian patients might have been more prone to adverse events because they were slightly older than patients in Spain and Italy and more of them had mild heart dysfunction, said Dr. Dan Atar of the University of Oslo, who led one of the trials.

Among female participants in REBOOT, those taking beta-blockers - particularly those with good heart function receiving higher doses – had more adverse outcomes than women not taking the drugs, researchers reported in the European Heart Journal.

In REBOOT, researchers did see a lower rate of new heart attacks, heart failure, or death with beta-blocker use by patients with mildly reduced heart function, as indicated by a left ventricular “ejection fraction” between 40% and 49%.

The effect in this subgroup was confirmed in an analysis of data pooled from REBOOT, BETAMI–DANBLOCK, and a Japanese trial, according to a report published in The Lancet.

The message for cardiologists, Ibanez said, is “We can now state with confidence that beta-blockers are beneficial” in patients with mildly impaired heart function, and “there remains reasonable uncertainty about their benefit” in patients with normally functioning hearts.

Atar said an analysis looking specifically at beta-blocker use by patients with normal heart function will be presented at a U.S. cardiology meeting in November.

(Reporting by Nancy Lapid; editing by Caroline Humer and Diane Craft)

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July 31 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries SUN.NS, India's largest drugmaker by revenue, reported a higher adjusted profit on Thursday, aided by strong sales in the domestic market.

The Mumbai-based firm's consolidated profit before tax and exception items rose 16.6% to 39.91 billion rupees ($455.6 million) in the quarter ended June 30.

($1 = 87.6000 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam; Editing by Sonia Cheema)

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July 21 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd SUN.NS:

• SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LTD - ILUMYA STUDIES MEET PRIMARY ENDPOINT IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

• SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LTD - ILUMYA SHOWS SIGNIFICANT ACR20 IMPROVEMENTS AT WEEK 24

• SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LTD - RESULTS SUPPORT POTENTIAL US SUBMISSION FOR ILUMYA IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

Source text: ID:nBSE56mL6Z

Further company coverage: SUN.NS

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July 17 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd SUN.NS:

• UNIT INCORPORATED IN CHINA

Source text: ID:nBSEc9SWhn

Further company coverage: SUN.NS

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July 14 (Reuters) - India's top drugmaker by revenue, Sun Pharma SUN.NS, on Monday launched its anti-baldness drug Leqselvi in the U.S., following settlement of a patent dispute with Incyte Corp INCY.O.

(Reporting by Manvi Pant; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)

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Updates paragraph 1, adds details on Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly

June 26 (Reuters) - India's drug regulator on Thursday approved the launch of pre-filled injector pens of Eli Lilly's LLY.N blockbuster weight-loss drug, Mounjaro, giving the company more options to compete with rival Novo Nordisk's NOVOb.CO recently launched Wegovy.

India, the world's most populous country, has high obesity rates and the second-highest number of people with type 2 diabetes. Around 11% of Indian adults are expected to become obese by 2035, according to the World Obesity Federation Atlas.

Here are the local and international drugmakers also eyeing the Indian market and looking to introduce rivals to Lilly's drug:

NOVO NORDISK

The Danish drugmaker launched its blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy in India on June 24, three months after Eli Lilly began marketing its rival product Mounjaro.

The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide, which is likely to go off-patent in 2026 in India.

Wegovy and Lilly's Mounjaro belong to the same class of treatments called GLP-1 agonists, which soared into popularity globally triggering a shortage of supply.

GLP-1 drugs mimic a gut hormone that helps control blood sugar levels and slow digestion, making people feel fuller for longer.

ELI LILLY

Lilly started selling Mounjaro in India in late March for diabetes and obesity, beating rival Novo to the market. The doses available were 2.5 mg and 5 mg vials.

On Thursday, Mounjaro KwikPen - for once-weekly use - was approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization for six dose strengths of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg.

SUN PHARMA

Sun Pharmaceutical SUN.NS, India's largest drugmaker by revenue, is developing its own GLP-1 treatment, utreglutide, for weight loss and type 2 diabetes.

The drugmaker said earlier this month it expects to launch the drug in the next four to five years.

BIOCON

Indian drugmaker Biocon BION.NS is developing its own version of Novo's Wegovy, as the drug is set to lose exclusivity next year in emerging markets such as India, Brazil, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia.

ZYDUS LIFESCIENCES

India's Zydus Lifesciences ZYDU.NS is developing the generic version of Semaglutide and plans on launching the drug after its patent expires in India.

CIPLA

Cipla CIPL.NS, India's third-largest drugmaker by sales, is among the Indian drugmakers making cheaper versions of Novo's Wegovy.

Cipla has also said it is open to partnering with Lilly to market Mounjaro in India.

DR. REDDY'S

India's Dr. Reddy's REDY.NS has said it plans to launch generic versions of Semaglutide in all the markets as Novo's patent expires.

LUPIN

India's Lupin LUPN.NS is another generic drugmaker looking to grab a share of the burgeoning obesity treatment market with its own version of Novo's Wegovy.

NATCO, MANKIND PHARMA, AUROBINDO PHARMA

Media reports say India's Natco Pharma NATP.NS, Mankind Pharma MNKI.NS, Aurobindo Pharma ARBN.NS are also developing cheaper versions of Novo's Wegovy.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the reports.

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny and Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)

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May 30 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd SUN.NS:

• SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LTD - COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF CHECKPOINT THERAPEUTICS

Source text: ID:nBSEbCPfhB

Further company coverage: SUN.NS

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May 22 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical SUN.NS, India's largest drugmaker by revenue, reported a rise in adjusted quarterly profit on Thursday, driven by strong domestic demand for its drugs to treat rare diseases.

The Mumbai-based firm's consolidated profit before exceptional items and tax rose 24% to 36.16 billion rupees ($420.7 million) in the three months ended March 31.

($1 = 85.9500 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Kashish Tandon in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)

(([email protected]; 8800437922;))

May 16 (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd SUN.NS:

• SUN PHARMA ANNOUNCES FDA APPROVAL OF NEXT GENERATION BLU-U® BLUE LIGHT PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY ILLUMINATOR FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS

Source text: ID:nPn53DL9Ya

Further company coverage: SUN.NS

May 12 (Reuters) - Indian pharmaceutical stocks .NIPHARM shed 1.3% on Monday, even as the broader markets rose, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would sign an executive order to cut prescription prices to the level paid by other high-income countries, an amount he put at 30% to 80% less.

Eight of the 20 stocks on the pharmaceutical sub-index were in the red, while the benchmark Nifty 50 index .NSEI was trading 2.4% higher.

Sun Pharma, India's top drugmaker by revenue, dropped 5.4% to be the top loser on the Nifty 50 and the pharma index. Glenmark Pharma GLEN.NS and Cipla CIPL.NS declined 0.4% and 1.5%, respectively.

Trump said he would sign the executive order on Monday morning to pursue what is known as "most favored nation" pricing or international reference pricing.

The U.S. pays the most in the world for many prescription drugs, often nearly triple that of other developed nations. Trump has said he wants to close that spread, but has not publicly specified how and did not provide details.

Several Indian drugmakers get a significant chunk of their revenue from North America by selling cheaper versions of the latest drugs.

The U.S. imports nearly a third of Indian pharma products sold overseas.

India's pharma exports to the U.S. jumped 16% to about $9 billion last fiscal year, according to data from government-backed trade body Pharmexcil.

(Reporting by Kashish Tandon in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)

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