Biocon Ltd. plans to file for regulatory approvals of generic versions of Novo Nordisk A/S's Ozempic and Wegovy in key markets as it races to be among the first few to reap a windfall after patents on the blockbuster weight-loss drugs expire next year.
The Bengaluru-based company is seeking approval of generic Ozempic by September from Canadian authorities, positioning itself to launch off-patent semaglutide as early as 2026. "I would say that we have the best chance in Canada" to start launching off-patent semaglutide, said Siddharth Mittal, Biocon's managing director. "If everything goes seamlessly," then Biocon can receive an approval to sell sometime in 2026, Mittal added.
Patent Expiration Timeline Creates Market Opportunity
The Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk, which controls about 70% of the global market for these drugs, will forfeit exclusive rights in many markets from 2026, with patents in India expiring around April of next year. However, patent expiration does not include the US, Europe or Japan, where Novo maintains longer protection periods.
The Kiran Mazumdar Shaw-led insulin maker is joining the leagues of the world's largest generic drugmakers, including Sandoz Group AG, in eyeing the weight-loss drug market in Canada, where Novo is set to lose patent protection on semaglutide early next year.
Competitive Landscape Intensifies
Other firms, including sector giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and China's Gan & Lee Pharmaceutical Ltd., are gearing up likewise for a slice of the fast-growing global market for generic obesity medicines. However, the Indian firm aims to be the first to launch a semaglutide copycat drug in Canada.
"I don't expect many companies to have crossed the finish line by next year," Mittal said, expressing confidence in Biocon's competitive positioning.
Global Expansion Strategy
The drugmaker is also looking to sell GLP-1 therapies in Latin American countries such as Brazil and Mexico, along with Asia-Pacific markets like Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and in its home base of India.
"We definitely see emerging markets where there is still under-penetration," Mittal said. "There's a huge scope for market expansion."
Biocon's track record includes being the first generic drugmaker to receive approval to sell the generic version of liraglutide — Novo's older weight loss and diabetes drug, sold as Victoza and Saxenda — in the UK last year.
India Market Dynamics
Novo launched Wegovy in India last month, following Eli Lilly & Co.'s Mounjaro entry, as those Western drugmakers seek to tap the country with the world's third-largest obese population. Eli Lilly's Mounjaro has a longer runway with patent protection, which doesn't expire until at least 2030 in most countries.
Biocon will start phase-3 trials for semaglutide in India "soon," and plans to file for approval by the end of next year, Mittal said. The company faces competition from rivals such as Cipla Ltd. and Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd., which are also in the race to develop and market off-patent versions of Novo's drug in India, which has at least 100 million obese people.
Pricing Strategy and Market Expectations
"It will be a crowded market," Mittal said, adding that Biocon is relying on its expertise in making insulin to retain an edge over local peers.
The company doesn't expect significant price erosion for Wegovy copies in India since the price point at which Novo launched "is quite reasonable," he said. The average price may slip by about a fifth, Mittal estimated, compared with the roughly 90% price erosion typically seen for blockbuster drugs after generic firms rush in.
