Natco Pharma fires first shot in weight-loss drug price war; generic semaglutide to cost 90% less at ₹1,290 per month
MUMBAI: Natco Pharma has offered the generic version of semaglutide at 90% cheaper than the original weight loss drug, heralding what could turn into an intense pricing war in the Indian pharmaceutical industry.
The Hyderabad-based drugmaker has priced semaglutide injection starting from: ₹1,290 per month in vial dosage form. The company will launch its brands of semaglutide on Saturday, a day after innovator Novo Nordisk lost patent protection in India.
Eris Lifesciences, which has a partnership with Natco to sell generic semaglutide, said the Sundae brand will be available for the same price in the starting dose.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and Zydus Lifesciences are also expected to introduce their versions of semaglutide on Saturday. Analysts expect the price of generic versions of the drug to drop by half due to intense competition.
Natco will market Semaglutide under the brands Semanat and Semafull. The price for multi-dose vials will be as follows: ₹1,290 per month for 2 mg/1.5 ml and 4 mg/3 ml and ₹The company said in a statement on Friday that it gave a price of 1,750 for 8 mg/3 ml.
A user using Natco’s vial brands, ₹7,740 in six months. However, prices may vary depending on the dosage recommended by the doctor.
Novo Nordisk’s drugs are sold and priced on Ozempic and Wegovy pen devices ₹8,800 and ₹10,850 per month respectively for initial doses. Natco’s pen device, which will be released in April, will be available at the following price: ₹4,000 for 2 mg/1.5 ml, ₹4,200 for 4 mg/3 ml and ₹4,500 per month for 8 mg/3 ml.
Eris’ Sundae will be available in multi-dose vial formats ₹1,290 per month for the 2 mg/1.5 ml and 4 mg/3 ml variants. The company will launch the pen device in April at the same price as Natco.
“Natco is the first company to offer generic semaglutide in multi-dose vials with customized syringes. It is currently the most affordable GLP-1 in the Indian market as it is around 70% cheaper than the pen device in terms of cost and 90% cheaper than the innovative brand’s price,” the company said.
The company will sell the drug directly and also offer it to third parties for joint marketing.
market size
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. The GLP-1 market in India, which includes Semaglutide brands as well as a new molecule from Eli Lilly, tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Yurpeak), has grown by over 100,000. ₹1,400 crore in just one year from brands launched in the country.
CareEdge Ratings predicts the market will grow fivefold over the next five years.
Natco received Central Drugs Standard Control Organization approval to manufacture and market generic semaglutide in India in February.
Novo Nordisk recently reduced Wegovy prices in India. It also launched its blockbuster brand, Ozempic, in December to capitalize on its monopoly on semaglutide before it loses its patent privilege.
