NEW DELHI: India’s Health Ministry warned on Tuesday of the unregulated use of weight-loss drugs, as cheap generic versions of blockbuster diabetes medications such as Ozempic entered the market following patent expiry.
The patent on semaglutide, the active ingredient in weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, expired on March 20 in India, allowing local pharmaceutical companies to produce their own versions and sell them at a fraction of the original price.
Several companies have already made the generic versions of the GLP-1 drugs — referring to the hormone that regulates blood glucose levels and appetite — available at popular Indian pharmacies with prices per one weekly dose starting at $15.
“With the recent introduction of multiple generic variants of GLP-1-based weight loss drugs in the Indian market, concerns have emerged regarding their on-demand availability through retail pharmacies, online platforms, wholesalers, and wellness clinics,” the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement on Tuesday.
“These drugs, when used without proper medical supervision, may lead to serious adverse effects and related health risks.”
