Natco, Eris Life to launch slimming shots in both Vial and Pen formats

In a surprise move, Hyderabad-based Natco Pharma and Ahmedabad-based Eris Lifesciences are launching their own respective generic semaglutide weight-loss injections in both vial and pen-device formats.

For convenience of dosing, most companies have relied on selling their brands in the pen device forms.

The strategy to introduce vials is seen as a masterstroke, enabling the drug makers to offer their brands of injections at an 85% discount to innovator Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide molecule that goes off patent on Saturday.


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The lower-priced vials, expected to retail at Rs 1,290-Rs 1,750 for a month’s supply depending on the dosage, are likely to target middle- and lower-income patients, particularly in non-metro markets. The vials will be launched now as patent cliff happens on Saturday, while the pens are expected in April.

“This launch significantly improves affordability, bringing effective GLP-1 therapy within reach for nearly 70% of India’s diabetes patient population,” said Amit Bakshi, Chairman and Managing Director of Eris Lifesciences.

Eris has a third-party manufacturing arrangement with Natco and the brands remain independent, he said. “The manufacturing will be done in Ahmedabad for all parties involved,” Bakshi told ET. “We're currently in a partnership with Natco, but as we progress into the second quarter, we will be transitioning towards our own manufacturing and branding,” added Bakshi.

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Meanwhile, the pen device, expected to be launched in April, is positioned to compete with leading brands in metropolitan areas.

Industry sources said the dual-format rollout mirrors the strategy adopted by Eli Lilly for its weight-loss drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide), which is also offered in both vials and prefilled monthly pen, and gives patients flexibility in terms of pricing.

“While some level of compounding may be required for self-administration of the vials, this approach could be a game-changer by significantly expanding access and widening the user base,” a senior industry source told ET.

Take out the cost of the pen device and the cost of the drug can be reduced drastically, by over half," a source noted.

Separately, drugmaker Glenmark too has launched its generic semaglutide brand Glipiq in both vial and pre-filled pen formulations. The expected weekly cost of treatment with the vials range from Rs 325 to Rs 440, significantly lowering the cost barrier.

“Affordability is one of the biggest barriers to initiating advanced diabetes therapy in India…The vial-based format enables us to offer a more affordable option while supporting clinically guided initiation and flexible dosing,” said Alok Malik, President and Business Head, India Formulations, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals.

Eris’s brand of generic semaglutide is called Sundae in India, while Natco’s brands are Semanat and Semafull.

The multidose vials will be available in strengths 2mg/1.5ml, 4mg/3ml and 8mg/3ml with base price of Rs 1,290 per month.

Both companies are also planning pen devices that will be priced at Rs 4,000, Rs 4,200 and Rs 4,500 per month for the strengths 2mg/1.5ml, 4mg/3ml.

“The goal is to get the HbA1c in control without complicating diabetes management,” said Bakshi. Explaining what the vial does in terms of filtering, he added: “The vial goes to a level that filters everything that was lacking in the system, helping regulate the condition.”

Most generic drugmakers are expected to launch their versions of semaglutide in the Rs 3,000-Rs 5,000 price range--more than half the cost of the innovator molecule.

Novo’s Ozempic is priced at Rs 8,800-11,175, while its other semaglutide brand, Wegovy, costs Rs 10,850-16,400 for a month. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) from Eli Lilly costs anywhere between Rs 13,000 and Rs 26,000 per injection, based on the dosage. Each injection consists of four monthly shots.