Departing soon
For India’s drug giants, this marks the beginning of a new aggressive race.
At least four major firms have already prepared generic semaglutide injections, regulatory filings and compliance documents reviewed by the AFP.
Some, including Zydus Lifesciences, have announced “Day 1” launches, suggesting generic versions could become available as soon as this weekend in India.
Research firm Pharmarack reckons the Indian market will soon be flooded with options.
“What we understand is that there will be more than 50 brands that will be launched in the market and there are more than 40 players that will be launching these drugs,” Pharmarack vice president Sheetal Sapale said.
The timing coincides with India’s changing healthcare landscape.
While the country still accounts for one-third of the world’s undernourished according to the World Health Organization (WHO), rising incomes and urban lifestyles have pushed obesity rates up.
Government data released in March last year showed that 24 percent of women and 23 percent of men are overweight or obese in India.
“Once a person starts making money, they become more sedentary,” says bariatric surgeon Sanjay Borude.
“Whereas in first world countries, the more money, they become more active and devote time to their health, it’s the opposite in India.”
These economic changes have worked well for big pharma players like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, who have cashed in on the market.
Sales of weight loss drugs in India have grown tenfold in five years to $153 million as of 2026 and are projected to grow to over half a billion by 2030.
But the use of such drugs can cause side effects, including nausea and gastrointestinal problems.
