Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk is expressing caution regarding the rapid proliferation of semaglutide generics in India, a market that has quickly become a global hotspot for post-patent expiry competition. The company anticipates an adverse impact on its international business sales in 2026 due to the loss of exclusivity for semaglutide in various markets, with India specifically highlighted as a key area of concern.
India's Market Sees Flood of Generics
Following the patent expiry of the semaglutide molecule in March 2026, India has emerged as one of the earliest major markets to experience widespread generic competition. Novo Nordisk noted in its first-quarter earnings report that several competing companies introduced semaglutide generics in India during Q1. More than a dozen prominent Indian pharmaceutical firms, including Sun Pharma, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Cipla, and Zydus Lifesciences, have already launched their semaglutide products targeting diabetes and obesity.
This influx of generic versions is expected to intensify pricing competition within a market previously dominated by imported branded GLP-1 therapies. Analysts predict that these lower-cost alternatives will significantly expand access for diabetes and obesity patients across India, while simultaneously increasing pressure on innovator companies.
Market Growth and Challenges
According to Pharmarack data and industry estimates, India’s GLP-1 market is currently valued at approximately ₹1,600 crore and is projected to surge to nearly ₹12,000 crore over the next five years, largely driven by the patent expiry and subsequent generic launches.
Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director, Novo Nordisk India, told Business Today, “Despite India’s high obesity burden, therapy care remains in its infancy. Far from slowing down, India’s market is opening new opportunities to deliver innovation at scale and helping millions live healthier, longer lives.”
Shrotriya also pointed out that over 50 companies have registered more than 150 brands across various delivery devices and dose formats in India’s weight-loss drug market. This has created “an environment overwhelmed with communication around doses, prices and formats, often leading to confusion.” He emphasized that a significant challenge lies in the limited understanding of obesity as a disease. Novo Nordisk's strategy focuses on driving clarity and standardization, ensuring consistent dosing, responsible pricing, and prioritizing education.
Global Outlook and Novo Nordisk's Response
Globally, the GLP-1 market is estimated to exceed $70 billion in 2026, fueled by soaring demand for obesity and diabetes treatments. Novo Nordisk expects this global market expansion to continue, though growth will be “countered by lower realised prices” and increasing competition across markets.
The company's International Operations sales increased by 6% at constant exchange rates during the first quarter, driven by growth in Europe and Asia-Pacific, although this was partly offset by weakness in emerging markets and China. Novo Nordisk reported global sales of DKK 96.8 billion (approximately ₹1.23 lakh crore) in Q1 2026, with obesity care sales rising 22% at constant exchange rates.
Novo Nordisk is actively expanding its obesity portfolio globally, with its Wegovy pill having crossed two million prescriptions since its US launch in January 2026. The company is now focusing on integrating obesity care into primary care and strengthening medical education in India, leveraging its portfolio backed by extensive clinical trials and real-world data.
The World Health Organization's inclusion of semaglutide on its Essential Medicines List in 2025 further reinforces its critical role in global health, accelerating confidence in the therapy. Novo Nordisk remains optimistic about robust growth potential, driven by rising demand for effective therapies and growing awareness of obesity as a disease.