Alkem Laboratories on Tuesday said it has launched semaglutide in single-shot pre-filled syringes in India at a starting price of Rs 350, becoming the first company in the country to offer the popular diabetes and weight-management drug in the format.The company said it has received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to manufacture and market semaglutide pre-filled syringes for the management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity as an adjunct to diet and exercise.Alkem said the ready-to-use, single-shot pre-filled syringe format is designed to improve access and convenience for patients while lowering entry barriers to treatment through affordable pricing.Also Read: Rs 450 to Rs 4,200: Drugmakers rush in to win the business of losing weightThe launch comes less than three months after the company introduced semaglutide in pre-filled disposable and reusable injection pens in the Indian market. It has also received regulatory approval for semaglutide vials, which are expected to be launched shortly."Semaglutide has the potential to change how we manage metabolic disorders. With the launch of our pre-filled syringes, we are widening the choice available to doctors and patients, alongside the pen options we have already introduced," said Vikas Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of Alkem.The launch comes amid intensifying competition in India's fast-growing obesity and diabetes drug market following the expiry of patents on Novo Nordisk's semaglutide products earlier this year. Several domestic drugmakers, including Natco Pharma, Sun Pharma, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Lupin, Zydus Lifesciences and Torrent Pharmaceuticals, have launched or announced semaglutide-based therapies in recent months.Also Read: Natco launches Rs 1,290 semaglutide in India, undercuts diabetes drug pricesIndia's obesity drug market is projected to expand to about Rs 8,000 crore by 2030 from roughly Rs 1,500 crore currently, according to Pharmarack estimates. Analysts expect more than 40 Indian pharmaceutical companies to introduce over 50 brands of weight-loss and diabetes therapies as competition drives down prices and broadens access.The growing interest in the segment is underpinned by India's rising burden of obesity and diabetes. India has the world's second-largest population of adults with diabetes after China and could have more than 440 million overweight or obese people by 2050, according to estimates from The Lancet and the International Diabetes Federation.Alkem said the new launch reflects its focus on expanding access to high-quality and affordable medicines across key therapeutic areas while supporting better patient care in India.