Sun Pharma gets nod to make generic Wegovy

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd said on Friday it has received approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to make and market a generic version of its semaglutide injection for weight control, and shared plans to launch it in March when the drug’s patent expires.

The product will be sold in five doses under the brand name Noveltreat, similar to the innovative Novo Nordisk drug Wegovy.

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated for chronic weight management in adults. The drug loses patent exclusivity in India in March, and many generic drug manufacturers are preparing to launch their own versions.

On January 21, management at rival Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd told reporters that they too had received regulatory approval and were targeting 12 million items in the first year.

Sun Pharma also received regulatory approval in December 2025 to manufacture and market semaglutide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and plans to launch it under the brand name Sematrinity. Novo Nordisk sells semaglutide injections under the brand name Ozempic to treat type 2 diabetes.

Kirti Ganorkar, Managing Director, Sun Pharma, said: “Noveltreat meets global quality standards and is backed by strong clinical evidence from India on the effectiveness and safety of weight management. As India’s largest pharmaceutical company with leadership in cardiometabolic therapies, we are committed to improving access to generic semaglutide across the country post patent expiration.”

So far, Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and Alkem Laboratories Ltd are the only Indian drugmakers to receive regulatory approval for generic semaglutide. Several other drugmakers are also awaiting approval and have announced their intention to launch the drug in March.

Sun Pharma and Dr Reddy’s started manufacturing generic semaglutide and exporting it to off-patent markets after receiving approval from the Delhi high court in December.

Currently Novo Nordisk sells Wegovy at: ₹13,850 per month for 0.5 mg and 1 mg doses, cost of last two doses ₹16,400 each. American pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, which currently holds the lion’s share of the country’s weight-loss drug market, is currently priced. ₹14,000 per month for the 2.5 mg dose, ₹27,500 for 15mg dose.