Obesity bet may drive focus on chronic segment: Alkem Labs

India's sixth-largest drug maker Alkem Labs said the expected launch of its weight loss drug semaglutide could fuel a strategic shift from sales of its mainstay acute treatments like antibiotics to chronic care segments like diabetes, heart drugs and obesity.

Like most of its homegrown peers, Alkem is set to launch the generic versions of semaglutide after Novo Nordisk's patent expiry on March 20, 2026. Alkem said its indigenously developed semaglutide injectable has been approved for use in treatment of type-2 diabetes and chronic weight management.

Alkem's brands Pan and Pan D are widely used for acid reflux and stomach ulcers, while antibiotic Clavam is ranked after Augmentin from GSK. According to PharmaTrac data, Pan clocked sales of ₹831 crore, Pan D had sales of ₹697 crore while Clavam recorded sales of ₹709 crore on Moving Annual Total (MAT) basis.


Alkem CEO Vikas Gupta told ET the company plans to double its revenue from the chronic segment over the next three-to-five years on the back of organic growth and acquisitions.

The company expects the shift to chronic drugs to translate into a more consistent sales trajectory.

Alkem's chronic drugs sales in India have grown at a 5-year CAGR of 13.1%, outperforming the overall Indian pharma market (IPM) chronic segment growth of 10.5% in the same period.

"Some 8-10 years ago, our chronic revenue was hardly 8-9% (of sales) and from there, with every year, we are increasing its contribution to the overall business. Our portfolio has become very contemporary now, and our launch of semaglutide may help us further growth," Gupta said.

Alkem's chronic business in India stood at around ₹1500 crore, IQVIA MAT February 2026 data showed. It accounts for about 18% of the company's overall prescription drugs revenue. Sales from India accounts for 70% of Alkem's total revenue of about ₹13,000 crore.

At least 50 brands of generic semaglutide are expected to be launched by Indian pharma companies in the next few days and weeks.

On the intense competition in the segment, Gupta said "I believe quality players, the ones that are backward integrated, which means the ones that have their own product and strong control on manufacturing and supply chain, I think they will have an edge over the others."