Novo Nordisk takes Dr. Reddy’s to court over Ozempic-like brand name
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: As semaglutide, the drug behind weight-loss drug Ozempic, goes off-patent in India and cheaper copies flood the market, Novo Nordisk has moved to defend its flagship brand and Dr. He has launched a new legal battle with Reddy’s Laboratories over a rival name that he says is too close for comfort.
Danish drug manufacturer, Dr. approached the Delhi High Court to restrain Reddy’s from launching a generic version of semaglutide under the brand name “Olymviq”; argued that it was phonetically and structurally similar to Ozempic and risked confusing patients and prescribers.
Hearing the matter on Wednesday, judge Jyoti Singh said Dr. It directed Reddy’s to directly and indirectly halt the launch of the brand, including production, sale to distributors and final sales, until the case is heard on a priority basis on Friday.
“From now on, it will be frozen. That’s it. Nobody is moving it. The distributor is not selling it to the market. If it is suitable, you are not sending it to the distributor. This is the solemn commitment and assurance you have given to the court. I do not want any violation or any deviation in this regard,” Singh said.
Singh also noted that, given the similarity, Dr. He suggested that Reddy’s may consider making changes so that both parties can co-exist in the market, noting that if the matter escalates, any stay order at a later stage could be detrimental to the brand itself.
“I will really have to push myself to find the difference structurally, visually and phonetically,” Singh said. “I mean, the bottom line is you go to the Division Bench and cancel my order or stay – that’s your right. But there will be a stay, businesses will be affected and such stay orders in the media will have their own repercussions on the name and credibility of the brand. I’d rather you go that route – make a little change to the name here and there and you both can live in peace.”
general rush
The dispute comes just days after Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster drug for type 2 diabetes and obesity, semaglutide, lost patent exclusivity in India on March 20, triggering a flood of launches at around half the cost. Novo sells it locally under the names Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus.
More than 50 generic versions are expected to become available this year, according to Pharmarack.
Dr. Reddy’s, among others, has launched the drug as Obeda for type 2 diabetes. However, Novo claimed that the company was preparing promotional material for another brand, “Olymviq” and was on the verge of launching it.
Advocating for action, Novo said the similarity would lead to confusion with the innovative brand, which is a “well-established name because it is a made-up and fictitious brand” that has been used in 100 countries since 2014.
Novo’s lawyer told the court that Ozempic generated $63 billion in global sales in the last five years, $3.5 billion of which was spent on promotion. Records were broken in India, where it was launched in December 2025. ₹22 crore sales, ₹15 crore has been spent on promotion so far.
Amid a flood of generic drugs, Novo is relying on brand recalls and contacting doctors to maintain market share, and Dr. He demanded urgent action, warning that Reddy’s would “flood the market” if not reined in.
Senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, working on behalf of Novo Nordisk, argued that trademark protection is especially critical for pharmaceutical products, citing a 2022 dispute between Sun Pharma and Glenmark over the Instamet and Indamet brands.
“It is common knowledge that many prescriptions are written over the phone, while others are written by hand, and such handwriting is often illegible. These factors increase the likelihood of pharmacists making confusion or errors when filling prescriptions,” said Singhvi.
trademark war
In response, Dr. Semaglutide is not an impulse purchase but a specialized, prescription-based treatment under medical supervision, reducing the chances of confusion as multiple layers of professional judgment intervene, said Sandeep Sethi, senior lawyer working for Reddy’s Laboratories.
According to India’s trademark registration review, Dr. Reddy also applied for registration of the name “Olymviq” on July 25, 2025 and on March 23, 2026.
The company has also been in a separate legal dispute with Novo Nordisk since May 2025 over alleged patent infringement related to semaglutide.
The patent expiration has opened the door to 50-90% cheaper versions of innovative brands from Indian drugmakers such as Sun Pharma, Zydus Lifesciences, Glenmark, Natco and Alkem.
Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy are available and priced on pen devices ₹8,800 and ₹10,850 per month respectively for initial doses.
