Novo Nordisk moves Delhi HC to block Sun Pharma as weight loss drug patent expiry looms
As blockbuster weight loss drug semaglutide moves closer to losing its patent exclusivity in India, innovator Novo Nordisk is upping the ante against local firms looking to launch copies of the drug.
The Danish drugmaker on Tuesday approached the Delhi high court seeking to restrain domestic giant Sun Pharmaceutical Industries from launching the generic version of semaglutide, a drug widely prescribed for diabetes and weight loss.
The matter was briefly heard by a bench headed by judge Tejas Karia; it handed over the case to the panel that was already hearing Novo’s parallel case against Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and Natco Pharma over the same patent.
On Wednesday of the defense, Dr. It is expected to be taken up before judge Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, who allowed Reddy Laboratories to export semaglutide to off-patent countries.
During the hearing, Novo’s lawyer asked Sun Pharma to promise not to launch the product within the next 24 hours.
The lawyer requested urgent temporary help and said, “If they throw it away, my prayer will be invalid. Let them make a statement.”
The latest move follows an order passed on December 2, in which Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora rejected Novo’s request for an injunction against Dr Reddy’s Labs, allowing the company to manufacture and export semaglutide until March 2026 and restricting domestic sales until the patent expires.
The court ruled that Novo had failed to establish strong enough evidence to justify the temporary ban and stated that if the Danish company was successful in the trial, any financial losses could be compensated later.
The decision stated that Novo only imported semaglutide into India and did not manufacture it locally, hence Dr. It was stated that Reddy’s export operations could continue.
The court noted Dr Reddy’s undertaking that he would not sell semaglutide in India and directed the company to keep production and export details on record since April when production started.
However, it was announced that Dr Reddy will not be able to sell the drug in India until March 2026, when the patent will expire. The court added that all the observations are prima facie valid and will not affect the final outcome of the hearing.
Novo’s lawyer said the company plans to appeal the decision before a division panel next week.
The war is heating up
The race for weight loss drugs is intensifying in India as innovators gain strength. Several domestic drugmakers, including Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy’s and Natco Pharma, are preparing to launch generic semaglutide once its patent expires in March 2026.
Others, such as Cipla and Emcure Pharma, have signed partnerships with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk respectively to distribute their drugs domestically.
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Novo’s GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus). Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, it was later approved for the treatment of obesity, and clinical studies showed 15-23% weight loss. Wegovy was launched in India in June at a monthly cost. ₹17,345– ₹26,050, then down 37% ₹10,850 amid increased competition.
India’s market for GLP-1 agonists has grown rapidly. ₹186 crore in November 2022 ₹1,047 crore in November 2025, according to data from pharma intelligence platform Pharmarack. Eli Lilly’s drug tirzepatide (Mounjaro) has led the market since its launch in March 2025 ₹100 crore sales in October.
But Novo’s price cut last month boosted its sales and helped it gain a 5% market share in absolute doses in November alone. As of November 2025, Lilly’s Mounjaro held 86% of the market share in doses, while Wegovy held the rest.
