Indian contract drug manufacturer OneSource Specialty Pharma is positioning itself for significant growth as the patent for semaglutide, the active ingredient in blockbuster weight-loss drugs, approaches expiration in early 2026. The company expects its order book to expand at a 30% compound annual growth rate through fiscal year 2028, driven by the global obesity market estimated to reach $150 billion by the early 2030s.
Strategic Focus on GLP-1 Market Opportunity
The patent for semaglutide, found in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, will expire in more than 100 countries including key markets like India, Canada, and Brazil. This patent cliff presents a major opportunity for generic manufacturers to enter the lucrative GLP-1 agonist market, which is projected to exceed $100 billion globally by the end of the decade.
"The semaglutide launch is not just another product in our pipeline; it is a strategic imperative that will redefine our growth trajectory for the next five years," CEO Neeraj Sharma told Reuters and Moneycontrol in recent interviews.
OneSource has already secured 15 orders related to obesity and diabetes drugs in fiscal year 2025, with more in the pipeline. The company's customers include large generic pharmaceutical companies that have filed for regulatory approvals in key markets to enable Day 1 launches.
Massive Infrastructure Investment
The Bengaluru-based contract development and manufacturing organization is channeling a significant portion of a $100 million capital expenditure into preparing for the semaglutide launch. The company is expanding its cartridge filling capacity by five times, from the current 40 million cartridges to 200 million over the next 18-24 months.
"We are preparing to be a Day 1 launcher. All our efforts, from manufacturing to supply chain, are aligned to ensure we have a significant market presence from the outset," Sharma explained.
A major portion of the investment will support the company's new injectable facility in Visakhapatnam, which is critical for manufacturing semaglutide and other peptide-based products. OneSource is also investing in lyophilization capabilities and dedicated peptide synthesis lines.
Revenue Growth Projections
OneSource, which doubled its revenue from $85 million to $170 million over the past two years, is targeting $400 million in revenue over the next three years. The company projects revenue growth of 20-25% in fiscal year 2026, up from 14% in fiscal year 2025.
Management expects semaglutide to contribute at least 10-12% to revenue in its first full year of sales. This growth trajectory is expected to boost margins significantly, with OneSource projecting EBITDA margins to expand to 25-27% in fiscal year 2026, up from 22.4% in the previous year.
"Our focus on complex generics is a conscious strategy to move up the value chain," Sharma noted. "Products like semaglutide and other peptides in our pipeline will be the key drivers of margin expansion moving forward."
Competitive Strategy and Market Position
OneSource positions itself as a fully integrated contract development and manufacturing organization capable of delivering end-to-end GLP-1 solutions. The company serves as an end-to-end supplier, handling everything from API procurement to pre-finishing, full assembly, and packaging.
"We procure API, do pre-finish, full assembly, packing, and the product that leaves our factory gate is the one opened by the patient," Sharma explained.
Despite acknowledging intense competition from both domestic and international players, OneSource has developed a two-pronged strategy: securing long-term contracts with large pharmacy benefit managers in the U.S. and Europe, and establishing itself as a reliable B2B supplier to pharmaceutical companies lacking specialized manufacturing capabilities.
The semaglutide launch is central to OneSource's strategy to increase its specialty and complex generics portfolio contribution to over 30% of total revenue by fiscal year 2028, up from the current 18%.
Global Expansion Plans
OneSource, which was demerged from Strides Pharma Science and listed in January, is also exploring global manufacturing expansion in both Europe and the United States. The company competes with larger players such as Piramal Pharma and Divi's in the contract research, development, and manufacturing space.
The company's growth strategy aligns with the broader trend of global drugmakers, including generic manufacturers in India, racing to develop versions of injectable obesity drugs as patents expire and the market for GLP-1 therapies continues to expand rapidly.
