Rs 450 to Rs 4,200: Drugmakers rush in to win the business of losing weight

With the patent expiry of Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss drugs in India on March 20, at least six generic drugmakers have already launched their versions, intensifying competition in the country’s obesity treatment market.

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Lilly’s Mounjaro quickly gained traction in India, last year. A 2.5 mg Mounjaro KwikPen costs about Rs 13,125 for a month’s usage, with the highest 15 mg dose going up to RS 25,781.


Novo cut the price of Wegovy in India by up to 37% in November, pricing its lowest dose of 0.25 mg at Rs 10,850 for a one-month pack. It also launched Ozempic soon after for Rs 8,800 per month for the 0.25 mg dose.

India’s obesity drug market could grow to Rs 8,000 crore by 2030 from about Rs 1,500 crore today, according to Pharmarack estimates.

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, Reuters reported earlier this week, adding that experts caution this could also lead to misuse and confusion among prescribers as costs fall sharply, Reuters reported earlier this week.

Also Read: Alkem Laboratories launches semaglutide in India at Rs 450 per week, eyes booming weight-loss market

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 and the International Diabetes Federation.

Here is a look at the weightloss drugs prices in India:

Drugmaker	Dosage Type	Weekly Price (₹)	Monthly Price (₹)	Notes on Novo/Lilly Sales in India
Natco Pharma	Injection	-	1,290	Generic launch post-patent expiry
Alkem Labs	Injection	450	1,800	-
Sun Pharma	Injection	750–900	-	-
Dr. Reddy’s	Injection	-	4,200	-
Lupin / Zydus	Injection	-	2,200	-
Torrent Pharmaceuticals	Oral & Injection	-	3,999	-
Lilly	Mounjaro Injection	-	13,125–25,781	Original brand prices
Novo	Wegovy Injection	-	10,850	Price cut in Nov; Ozempic Rs 8,800 monthly