Dr. Reddy’s to Launch Affordable Generic Version of Wegovy (Semaglutide) in 87 Countries

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., a leading Indian pharmaceutical firm, is preparing a significant global market entry with plans to launch a lower-cost generic version of Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster weight-loss and diabetes drug, Wegovy (semaglutide).

According to Dr. Reddy’s CEO, Erez Israeli, the company aims to roll out the affordable treatment across 87 countries next year (2026). This strategic move is intended to democratize access to one of the world’s most in-demand obesity and metabolic disorder medications, particularly in emerging markets where the cost of branded versions has been a major barrier.

“We plan to bring an affordable version of semaglutide to more than 80 countries by next year,” said CEO Erez Israeli.

Patent Expiry Opens Global Opportunity

The generic launch is being timed to coincide with the expiration of the main patent covering semaglutide’s active ingredient in several key territories.

Patent Expiry: The main patent for semaglutide is set to expire in early 2026 in several large markets, including Canada, India, and Brazil.
Target Markets: Dr. Reddy’s initial launch strategy focuses on these countries and other emerging markets where exclusivity is lapsing.
Longer-Term Markets: The company expects the lucrative U.S. and European markets to open up much later, typically between 2029 and 2033, as local patents expire.

The company has indicated that this move positions Dr. Reddy’s to capture a significant share of the rapidly expanding metabolic and diabetes care segment, with the global semaglutide market projected to reach USD $61.7 billion by 2033.

Regulatory Status and Industry Race

While the company has not specified the exact launch timeline or regulatory approval dates for all 87 markets, Dr. Reddy’s has confirmed that it has filed the necessary regulatory applications in the intended launch territories.

The development underscores a growing interest among Indian pharmaceutical companies to challenge Novo Nordisk’s dominance in the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonist drug class. Other generic drugmakers are also reportedly gearing up to launch their versions once patents expire.

The success of this launch is seen by industry analysts as a major growth driver for Dr. Reddy’s, potentially generating “hundreds of millions of dollars” in sales and bringing much-needed price competition to the highly expensive weight-loss drug market.