From Rs 30,000 to Rs 3,000, India's weight-loss game is changing. What's the catch?

India Today

3 days ago

India is on the brink of a weight-loss revolution. What has long been a luxury reserved for the ultra-rich is now on the cusp of becoming mainstream. With anti-obesity drugs like semaglutide set to drop in price from a staggering Rs 30,000 to just Rs 3,000 per month, millions of Indians battling weight issues could finally gain access to life-changing treatment.advertisementAs pharmaceutical giants gear up to flood the market with affordable generics, 2026 is expected to mark not just the arrival of next-gen weight-loss medication—but the beginning of a nationwide health transformation.But is this transformation entirely welcome? And are we prepared for what it brings?
First let's understand, why now?Globally, GLP 1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have already helped nearly 20 million people lose weight since 2021. But in India? Access has been painfully slow and painfully expensive. Until now. The core ingredient in these blockbuster drugs, semaglutide, is going off patent in 2026 not just in India but in over 80 countries including Canada, China, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia.Once that happens, prices are expected to fall hard—by as much as 85 to 90 percent. That means what once cost Rs 20,000 to 30,000 a month could soon be available for as little as Rs 2,500 to Rs 4,000. For the average Indian earning around Rs 17,000 a month, that's a massive shift from completely out of reach to doable.This will be a fundamental shift in who gets to access obesity care. We're talking about taking weight-loss drugs from elite clinics in metros and putting them in the hands of everyday Indians. With nearly 33 percent of Indian adults struggling with obesity, this could have a massive public health impact. But with mass access comes a set of new concerns.DOCTOR'S SOUND CAUTION: WILL THIS ACCELERATE MISUSE?While the promise of affordable treatment is exciting, doctors are urging caution.'Undoubtedly the reduction in cost will allow access to a much larger segment of the Indian population, the drugs will not be elite anymore. Whenever prices go down, it always helps our patients. I assume the quality checks will be maintained as generics enter the challenge of course is, that misuse will become easier. Misuse might already be happening, and this could further increase. But overall, I think the benefits outweigh the challenges, I am quite optimistic about this move,' says Dr. Ambrish Mithal, India's leading endocrinologist and author of "The weight-loss revolution."To handle the misuse, countries like Portugal have given only doctors with approved specialities, permits to prescribe these drugs as a way of controlling the misuse. Something that doctors in India are now discussing.advertisement"If and when the drugs will become more affordable it will clear impact entire spectrum of more than 200 conditions which are impacted with people living with obesity. The cosmetic use and misuse of label need to be contained because these drugs have compelling data on complications and co morbidity and must be given under expert supervision,' warns Padma Shri Dr Shashank Joshi, who has been at the forefront of diabetes and obesity care in India.While there is a genuine sounding of caution, there is also the flip side to the generic race for weight-loss drugs.With patents expiring, the doors are wide open for Indian pharma players to jump in and they're wasting no time. Over 10 Indian companies have already filed for clinical trials, mostly for oral versions of semaglutide (no injections necessary).Add to that the competition from Chinese manufacturers, and what you get is a perfect storm of falling prices. Experts predict costs could plunge by up to 70 percent even before 2026, as generic versions hit the shelves and reshape the market.But this isn't just a drug story. The ripple effects across the healthcare ecosystem could be enormous: Insurers may begin covering weight-loss therapies, Hospitals may roll out dedicated obesity programs, Startups are already building subscription-based models that combine medication, coaching, and lifestyle trackingadvertisementIt's not just about shrinking waistlines—it's about reimagining public health.A CLEARER TIMELINE: WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHENHere's how the semaglutide story is expected to play out in India:Late 2025: Branded semaglutide drugs become legally available in India through formal pharma partnerships.Early 2026: Patent expiration triggers launch of the first Indian-made generics—both injectable and oral.Mid to late 2026: Prices drop significantly (up to 85 to 90 percent), demand spikes, and mass availability begins.By 2027: Generic semaglutide becomes a first line treatment for obesity across urban and semi urban India.In conclusion, what was once a Rs 30,000-a-month treatment is set to drop to Rs 3,000 or less. That's a game-changer—not just for individuals, but for India's public health system.2025 has already seen the early entry of next-gen weight-loss drugs into the Indian market. 2026 will be the year they go mainstream.But if we want this revolution to truly succeed, we need more than cheap drugs. We need education, regulation, and ethical oversight.Because if we're not careful, India could end up facing the same problems the West is already struggling with—from overuse and side effects to social media-fuelled obsession.And that's not the kind of health transformation anyone wants.- EndsMust Watch