The trend over the last three months is unlikely to change, say industry experts
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After the race to launch generic semaglutide for weight loss and diabetes, the anti-diabetes market has stabilised, even as innovator drugs hold their own in this category, according to Pharmatrack’s June data.Innovator companies Novo Nordisk, with brands Wegovy and Ozempic (injectable versions of semaglutide for weight loss and diabetes, respectively), and Eli Lilly,, with its weight-loss brand Mounjaro, continue to lead the pack at a slightly subdued level. “The exponential growth in the initial months has plateaued,” noted Sheetal Sapale, Vice-President, Commercial, at Pharmarack Technologies.The trend over the last three months is unlikely to change, as innovator products hold their own and the generics have onboarded patients who were looking for less expensive products, Sapale told businessline, adding that monthly sales from now on will be incremental.Big ContributorsThe GLP-1 drugs market is now pegged at ₹2,055 crore, with Lilly’s Mounjaro at ₹1,300 crore, for the 12 months up to June 2026. In the same period, the semaglutide brands posted sales of ₹649 crore. However, four of the innovator brands – Wegovy, Ozempic, Poviztra (second Wegovy brand sold by Emcure) and Extensior (second Ozempic brand sold by Abbott) – accounted for 18 per cent of unit sales for the month, or 40 per cent of value sales, said Sapale. The 31 generic semaglutide brands accounted for 82 per cent of the month’s unit sales, the industry data tracker said.Generic versions of semaglutide from companies including Sun Pharma, Torrent, Zydus, Alkem, Natco and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, for example, entered the domestic market when a patent on the drug expired late in March.Other GLP-1 drugs Dulaglutide and Liraglutide locked ₹67 crore and ₹37 crore, respectively. “Though the market looks upbeat, the growth momentum seems to have started plateauing, the industry tracker said. While semaglutide generics had expanded the size of the market, that also seems to have been optimally covered now”, it added. The innovator’s drugs continue to show steady growth month on month, “ indicating a loyal prescriber base and eligible patient onboarding,” the tracker added.Lilly’s TirzepatideThe industry data further revealed that after the initial dip in demand in March 2026, likely due to the generics launch in the same category, Tirzepatide recovered and grew beyond its pre-semaglutide generics sales levels. And while it has lost some ground from there, data points to sales now being in line with its pre-semaglutide generics sales numbers. Lilly has a tie-up with Cipla to market a second Mounjaro brand.Published on July 8, 2026
