As patents for blockbuster obesity drugs near expiry, Indian pharmaceutical companies are preparing to enter the lucrative obesity treatment market. This development comes as the prevalence of diabetes and other metabolic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India has significantly increased, with over 100 million people currently living with diabetes, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)–India Diabetes (INDIAB) study.
Rising Popularity of Anti-Obesity Drugs
Globally acclaimed obesity drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have gained immense popularity, and India is no exception. A recent Reuters report indicates that India plans to offer incentives to promote local manufacturing of GLP-1 drugs, used for treating both diabetes and obesity, starting in 2026. These drugs, originally approved for diabetes, are now widely used for obesity treatment. With the patent for Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, a key ingredient in popular obesity drugs, set to expire in 2026, several Indian drugmakers have applied for the government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.
Government Incentives and Manufacturing Plans
According to the Reuters report, once the patents expire and companies begin manufacturing GLP-1 drugs in 2026, the Indian government will start providing incentives. Last week, an American drugmaker stated it has not yet received approval from India’s drug regulator for selling its obesity drug Tirzepatide for weight loss. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has approved its use for diabetes, but the “obesity” indication is still under review. Marketed as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss in the U.S., Tirzepatide is expected to launch in India next year.
Growing Market for Anti-Obesity Drugs
The Lancet journal published a study in March 2023 revealing that 70 million adults in India were living with obesity in 2022, with women outnumbering men at 44 million to 26 million. Additionally, 5.2 million girls and 7.3 million boys aged 19 and under were obese. The rising incidence of obesity has driven significant growth in the anti-obesity drug market, which is now estimated to be worth Rs 500 crore. Key molecules in this space include semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, and orlistat, developed by companies like Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and Roche.
Urgent Need for Innovative Treatments
The latest ICMR-INDIAB study highlights that over 254 million people in India are living with generalized obesity, making it the world’s third-largest obese population. Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk India, emphasized the urgent need for innovative treatment options with proven results for sustained weight loss. This is critical as obesity increases the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.
