Hyderabad-based Natco Pharma has launched its generic semaglutide injection in India at a starting price of Rs 1,290 per month, marking one of the cheapest entries into the fast-growing GLP-1 diabetes therapy segment and significantly undercutting existing options in the market.
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The company said it had received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in February 2026 to manufacture and market the drug, following a clinical comparison study.
Semaglutide is widely used for the treatment of adults with inadequately controlled Type 2 diabetes mellitus, typically prescribed alongside diet and exercise.
Natco will roll out the drug in multi-dose vial formats under the brand names SEMANAT and SEMAFULL, with pricing starting at Rs 1,290 per month for the 2 mg/1.5 ml and 4 mg/3 ml variants, and Rs 1,750 for the 8 mg/3 ml strength. The company also plans to introduce a pen-device version in April, priced between Rs 4,000 and Rs 4,500 per month depending on dosage.
The launch comes as the patent on semaglutide – the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy – expires in India this week, ending the company’s exclusivity and opening the market to a wave of lower-cost generics. The expiry is expected to sharply reduce prices in a market where monthly therapy previously cost upwards of Rs 10,000, widening access in a country with one of the world’s largest diabetes and obesity burdens.
Indian drugmakers have moved quickly to tap the opportunity, with more than 40 companies – including Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and Lupin Limited – preparing to launch over 50 generic versions in the coming weeks. Companies are racing to gain early-mover advantage through partnerships, co-marketing deals and aggressive pricing strategies, intensifying competition in what is expected to become a multi-billion-dollar market
Natco said it is the first to introduce semaglutide in multi-dose vial form in India, offering customised syringes and enabling broader distribution through co-marketing partnerships.
Highlighting the affordability angle, Natco said the vial-based therapy is about 70% cheaper than pen devices and nearly 90% less expensive than the innovator’s brand, a move expected to significantly improve patient access and long-term treatment adherence.
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The launch comes as demand rises for GLP-1 therapies globally, with India emerging as a key growth market due to its large diabetic population. Natco said the lower pricing could help expand access to advanced diabetes care across the country.
The company, which focuses on complex generics and specialty pharmaceuticals, operates nine manufacturing facilities and two R&D centres in India, supplying products to more than 50 global markets.
Source : Economictimes
