Latest news with #NovoNordisk
Cision Canada
20 hours ago
- Health
- Cision Canada
Richmond, B.C. named Canada's Most Active Community Français
The city wins the 2025 ParticipACTION Community Challenge $100,000 grand prize TORONTO, July 22, 2025 /CNW/ - Richmond, B.C. has been named Canada's Most Active Community and awarded the $100,000 grand prize to support local physical activity and sport initiatives as part of the ParticipACTION Community Challenge presented by Novo Nordisk. Now in its sixth year, the national physical activity and sport initiative encourages Canadians to get active throughout the month of June. "Congratulations to Richmond and all of the provincial and territorial winners," said Elio Antunes, President and CEO of ParticipACTION. "Engaging community members in physical activity and sport is an important strategy for building healthier and more connected communities. It was so inspiring to see over 1,500 organizations host more than 10,000 low-barrier, inclusive physical activity and sport activities throughout June. We hope communities keep the momentum going and continue to make room to move year-round!" Richmond has been a strong competitor in the Community Challenge since its inception and won the title of B.C.'s Most Active Community in 2022 and 2024. This year, the city earned the title of Canada's Most Active Community with the help of local organizations that rallied people to get active through more than 1,000 programs and activities. Many of them were free or low cost, helping reduce barriers and supporting Richmond's commitment to building an inclusive and accessible community. "The City of Richmond is proud of our commitment to support physical activity and well-being," said Malcolm Brodie, Mayor of Richmond, B.C. "As a vibrant and active community, we provide safe, fun and inclusive opportunities for all ages to keep our people connected and promote healthy lifestyles. On behalf of the many organizations and individuals that support physical activity and well-being in Richmond, we are honoured to be named Canada's Most Active Community." Since the Community Challenge began in 2019, ParticipACTION has awarded $1.5 million to winning communities to support local physical activity and sport initiatives. To help level the playing field and facilitate accessible opportunities for people in Canada to get active during the Challenge, ParticipACTION has also awarded over $7 million in grants to organizations across the country to provide physical activity and sport opportunities for equity-denied groups. "Congratulations to all of the communities that took part in the ParticipACTION Community Challenge, and to this year's Most Active Community. It is inspiring to see Canadians come together to create stronger, healthier, and more active communities across the country – creating momentum for active lifestyles in Canada." — The Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health ParticipACTION also awarded between $7,500 and $15,000 to the following communities from each province and territory to recognize their outstanding efforts to engage their residents in physical activity and sport: Red Deer, AB Pinawa, MB Grand-Bouctouche, NB Clarenville, NL Truro and Cape Breton, NS (tie) Hay River, NT Iqaluit, NU Cochrane, ON Miltonvale Park, PE Québec City, QC Ituna, SK Faro, YT "By making sport more inclusive and accessible for everyone, our government is building stronger, healthier communities," said the Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport). "The ParticipACTION Community Challenge is a fantastic program that we are proud to support. Way to go, Richmond, B.C.! Congratulations and thank you for inspiring your neighbours and all Canadians to keep moving!" The 2025 Community Challenge took place from June 1 to 30 and was open to all communities, organizations and individuals across Canada. Over 846,000 participants and 672 communities participated in the Challenge and competed for the title of Canada's Most Active Community. "On behalf of Novo Nordisk Canada, congratulations to Richmond and to all the provincial and territorial winners, along with every individual who took part in this year's ParticipACTION Community Challenge. Novo Nordisk is proud to be the presenting partner of this important initiative, which plays a vital role in supporting a healthier Canada through the promotion of physical activity and prevention of chronic diseases." — Vince Lamanna, President of Novo Nordisk Canada Everyone in Canada should have access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities that help them grow and thrive—physically, emotionally and socially. From drag queen-led fitness events to sunrise hikes for newcomers and sensory-friendly swimming programs, communities across Canada made room to move during the Community Challenge, helping create a healthier, stronger country. About ParticipACTION ParticipACTION is a national non-profit charitable organization that envisions a Canada where physical activity is a vital part of everyday life for everyone. As Canada's leading physical activity organization, ParticipACTION works with its partners, which include organizations in the sport, physical activity and recreation sectors, alongside government and corporate sponsors, to help people move more where they live, learn, work and play. ParticipACTION is generously supported by the Government of Canada. Learn how ParticipACTION has been moving Canadians for over 50 years at About the Community Challenge The ParticipACTION Community Challenge presented by Novo Nordisk is a national physical activity and sport initiative that encourages everyone in Canada to get active throughout June in search of Canada's Most Active Community. The Community Challenge is open to all communities and individuals, ultimately recognizing Canada's Most Active Community and awarding it $100,000 to support local physical activity and sport initiatives. The ParticipACTION Community Challenge presented by Novo Nordisk is proudly funded by the Government of Canada and Novo Nordisk.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2 Beaten-Down Dividend Growth Stocks to Buy on the Dip
Key Points It isn't easy finding high-yield dividend growth stocks when the market is at an all-time high. Shares of Novo Nordisk and UnitedHealth Group have been beaten down to less than half their previous peak values. UnitedHealth Group and Novo Nordisk stock offer dividend yields that are more than double the market average. 10 stocks we like better than Novo Nordisk › A stock market that keeps reaching all-time highs hardly seems like anything for investors to complain about. But if you're trying to build a growing stream of passive income, extended bull markets are more than a little annoying. At recent prices, the average yield on dividend-paying stocks in the benchmark S&P 500 index is an unattractive 1.2%. While the overall market looks overbought (prices above intrinsic value), shares of Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) are more than 50% below their all-time highs. These stocks offer yields that are more than double the market average, plus they have a history of relatively rapid payout increases. Here's a look at why they're down, and how they could help everyday investors grow their passive income streams. 1. Novo Nordisk Shares of Novo Nordisk peaked last year as enthusiasm for anti-obesity medications reached a fever pitch. Then compounding pharmacies such as Hims & Hers Health that were allowed to sell their own versions of semaglutide pressured sales somewhat, and this hammered the stock price. Shares of this pharmaceutical giant previously famous for diabetes treatments are down 56% from their peak. As a Danish company, Novo Nordisk reports in Danish Krone, and the fluctuating exchange rate can make dividend growth seem a bit random. The company doesn't pay equal quarterly dividends that Americans are used to. Instead, it offers one large ordinary dividend payment annually that has risen 129% in five years. It also delivers a smaller interim dividend that has risen 105% in five years. Novo Nordisk will most likely continue raising its dividend payout in the years ahead. Even if the payout remains stagnant, investors who buy at recent prices would receive a 2.5% yield. That's more than twice the average yield that dividend stocks in the S&P 500 index are offering these days. Novo Nordisk's lead drug, semaglutide, is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) marketed as Ozempic for diabetes and as Wegovy for obesity. The company reported first-quarter sales of semaglutide that rose by 50.3% year over year. Sales of tirzepatide, a competing treatment marketed by Eli Lilly, rose 165% over the same time frame. Tirzepatide has been gaining share because it appears more effective at rapidly reducing weight. Novo Nordisk stock tanked in March because CagriSema, an experimental treatment investors were hoping would compete with tirzepatide, produced lackluster results in a big clinical trial. While semaglutide isn't the most powerful treatment for weight reduction, it is relatively easy to tolerate. When it comes to weight management treatments, a lack of side effects is an important selling point. Despite competition with compounding pharmacies and Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk has more than doubled earnings per share over the past three years. Now that the semaglutide shortage has officially ended, the Food and Drug Administration has generally stopped allowing compounding pharmacies to sell their own versions. This should give Novo Nordisk's sales a nice tailwind going forward. At recent prices, Novo Nordisk is trading for just 16 times forward-looking earnings estimates. That's an appropriate valuation for a business growing earnings by a single-digit annual percentage and extremely low considering semaglutide's growth rate. Scooping up shares now could lead to huge dividend payments once you're ready to retire. 2. UnitedHealth Group It might not feel like it when you pay their premiums, but the health insurance industry operates on relatively thin margins. Healthcare expenses tend to rise in a steady, predictable fashion, but this hasn't been the case lately for UnitedHealth Group. The stock is down about 55% from its peak last year because it underestimated how rapidly healthcare expenses have risen. Following a downward revision to earnings guidance that it announced in April, UnitedHealth Group's CEO left the company in May. The company also suspended its new outlook less than a month after announcing it. At recent prices, UnitedHealth Group shares offer a 3% dividend yield. The COVID-19 pandemic made managing healthcare benefits extra challenging, but UnitedHealth still managed to raise its dividend payout by 77% over the past five years, so that makes me optimistic. While 2025 might be a year that its shareholders would like to forget, there's no reason to suspect declining earnings to continue into 2026 and beyond. UnitedHealth is a middleman that always passes increasing healthcare expenses to its customers in the form of rising premiums. The company's Optum Health segment employs roughly 10% of America's physicians. As America's largest employer of physicians, it can pull more levers to control rising expenses than its peers. We don't know if management can formulate new earnings guidance that the market finds acceptable when it announces second-quarter earnings on July 29, but even if it takes a few quarters to get back on track, the dividend payments you receive in the meantime are yours to keep. Adding some shares now and holding over the long run looks like a very smart move. Should you invest $1,000 in Novo Nordisk right now? Before you buy stock in Novo Nordisk, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Novo Nordisk wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $652,133!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,056,790!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,048% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025 Cory Renauer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Hims & Hers Health. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk and UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Beaten-Down Dividend Growth Stocks to Buy on the Dip was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Severe obesity in U.S. children has more than tripled since 2008
The proportion of severely overweight children in the U.S. has skyrocketed in recent years, with the highest rates seen in adolescents and Black children, a new study found. Roughly 23% of all children were obese in 2023, up from 19% in 2008, according to the survey published this month in JAMA Network Open. Additionally, more than 1% of children between the ages of 2 and 18 had 'extremely severe obesity' — a 250% increase from the start of the study, the researchers from UC San Diego found. Phillipp Hartmann, the study's corresponding author, said he hopes the results lead to more trials that test the benefits of powerful weight loss drugs called GLP-1s for children and adolescents with severe obesity. 'It might be reasonable in those patients to have the weight loss medications very early,' he said in an interview. Medical professionals may be open to broadening the use of the popular weight loss drugs to treat obesity and diabetes in ever-younger patients. The Food and Drug Administration has approved only semaglutide, the main ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, for children 12 and older. But weight-loss medicines have been tested on kids as young as 6. Severe obesity also came with a higher risk of other health complications, such prediabetes and diabetes, severe insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that can increase the chance of heart disease and stroke. The results were based on information from more than 25,000 children gathered as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which is managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health Statistics. Amponsah writes for Bloomberg.
Economic Times
a day ago
- Health
- Economic Times
Obesity lab: India becomes ground zero for weight-loss drug race
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Innovator drugs enter the Indian market Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Popular in Healthcare/Biotech 1. Mind your posture: Doctors cite long hours in front of screen for increasing lifestyle diseases Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Generic tsunami looms as patents near expiry Indian pharma prepares to scale up Cipla signals intent to join the fray Government support and 'Make in India' for global export India's escalating obesity crisis Market projections and challenges ahead India is rapidly transforming into a crucial focal point for the global weight management industry, serving as both a significant market for novel anti-obesity drugs and a burgeoning hub for the production of their more affordable generic dual role is driven by an escalating obesity crisis within the country, coupled with the impending patent expirations of blockbuster weight loss medications and robust government pharmaceutical giants like Novo Nordisk have recently launched Wegovy, intensifying competition with Eli Lilly's Mounjaro which debuted earlier this year, while Indian pharmaceutical companies such as Dr. Reddy's, Sun Pharma, Cipla, Biocon, and Lupin are actively developing their own generic versions, aiming for market entry as early as 2026 once key patents pharmaceutical giants have recognised India's significant market potential, launching their advanced anti-obesity Lilly & Co. launched its anti-obesity drug, Mounjaro (Tirzepatide), in India in March 2025. The company introduced the drug in a single-dose vial after receiving marketing authorisation from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).According to data compiled by Pharmarack, Mounjaro recorded sales of nearly ₹24 crore in its first three months (March–May). More recent data from ET indicates Mounjaro's usage doubled in June, with sales value growing by 18% to ₹50 crore for that month Economic Times reported that a 2.5 mg vial of Mounjaro is priced at ₹3,500, and a 5 mg vial at ₹4,375, translating to ₹14,000–17,500 per month depending on weekly dose. A six-month treatment could cost about ₹1 of 2.5 mg injections rose to ₹5.08 crore in May from ₹4.80 crore in April and ₹1.42 crore in March, when it was launched, according to PharmaTrac firm Novo Nordisk also launched its anti-obesity drug, Wegovy (Semaglutide 2.4 mg), in major Indian cities on June 24. Originally planned for 2026, Novo Nordisk advanced Wegovy's launch to mid-2025 to directly challenge Mounjaro and capitalise on rising is available in five dose strengths in India. The 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg versions are priced at ₹4,336.25. The monthly cost would be ₹17,345, similar to Mounjaro. The 1.7 mg dose is priced at ₹24,280, and the 2.4 mg version at ₹26,015 for a month's growing middle and upper-middle classes can afford higher-cost treatments, making the country attractive to drug innovators. For example, Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, priced between ₹14,000–17,500 per month, has already seen significant Nordisk's oral semaglutide drug, Rybelsus, launched in January 2022, has grown from ₹26 crore to ₹412 crore, commanding a two-thirds share of the GLP-1 Lilly's tirzepatide-based Mounjaro, introduced in March 2025, clocked ₹50 crore in sales within its first quarter, capturing 8% of the market. Unit sales jumped from 11,637 in March to nearly 88,000 by June, nearly half of which were the 2.5 mg starter dose, indicating high patient onboarding and Nordisk's injectable Wegovy, launched in late June 2025, sold 1,788 units worth ₹2.53 crore across five dosage strengths, likely driven by patients previously using imported middle and upper-middle classes are now not just ablea to afford premium treatments: they're willing to. A once-unthinkable ₹15,000/month drug like Mounjaro is gaining real traction. That's not just a signal of rising income, it's a shift in mindset: people are prioritising preventive and lifestyle Nordisk's Rybelsus growing 15x in two years shows this isn't a one-off. It's a trend. And with Mounjaro hitting ₹50 crore in just one quarter, the demand for GLP-1s, whether for diabetes or weight loss, is real and scaling uptake of low starter doses also suggests something else: these aren't just prescriptions handed out to a few elite patients. Doctors are onboarding a lot of new users, and those users are sticking with the meds, at least through the early the right kind of innovative drugs, especially in chronic lifestyle conditions, it's becoming a viable, profitable market even at global price landscape of weight management drugs in India is poised for a significant shift with the impending patent expirations of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, a class of medications used for both type 2 diabetes and patents for semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, are set to expire around January 2026 in some regions and sometime next year in India. This "patent cliff" is a major catalyst for Indian generic manufacturers and Indian pharmaceutical companies are readying to bring in a range of generic versions of Novo Nordisk's move could open up cheaper access to weight-loss and diabetes drugs, possibly setting off a generics boom worth Nordisk's semaglutide franchise generated $17 billion from Ozempic and $8.4 billion from Wegovy in 2024 alone, as per the company's 2024 annual financial for semaglutide are expected to lapse in over 100 countries, including Canada (January 2026), Brazil (March 2026), and major Indian players, including Dr. Reddy's, Biocon, Sun Pharma, Cipla, Lupin, and Aurobindo Pharma, are positioning themselves OneSource Specialty Pharma is investing $100 million to scale up production, anticipating a revenue jump to $400 million within three years. Neeraj Sharma, CEO of OneSource, said in a media interview, 'Semaglutide will be a big part of it,' citing growing Reddy's CFO MV Narasimham stated that the company is ready for a "high-volume, low-cost" market and has end-to-end capabilities, as reported by Moneycontrol. Dr. Reddy's, which has been developing semaglutide for over a decade, is preparing for a global rollout, including injectable and oral Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw called the opportunity "very huge," noting the company's unique portfolio of GLP-1s and insulins. Biocon has already launched oral GLP-1 diabetes drug Liraglutide in the received CDSCO approval for its generic Liraglutide substance and product on June 2. It was also the first generic Liraglutide approved in the UK (March 2024), launched in February 2025, and approved in the EU (December 2024), demonstrating India's capability in complex peptide Lifesciences is investing over ₹100 crore ($12 million) in a new manufacturing facility using proprietary technology to produce cost-effective semaglutide, as per Divi's Laboratories, a key supplier of semaglutide components, has reported strong growth in its peptide business amid rising global demand, with HSBC projecting it to generate around $450 million in revenue from peptides by a major Indian drug firm, is actively preparing to enter the weight management segment in India. As reported by PTI on July 13, Umang Vohra, Cipla's MD and Global CEO, stated in the company's Annual Report for 2024-25, 'Obesity is emerging as a priority area for Cipla. With a clear strategic intent, we are preparing to enter the weight management segment in India, aiming to address the rising demand for effective obesity solutions.'Cipla's consolidated revenue stood at ₹27,548 crore in FY25, with a net profit of ₹5,272 Indian government is actively supporting domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing through its Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. With an outlay of ₹1.97 lakh crore across 14 sectors, the scheme aims to boost the production of complex drugs, including Key Starting Materials (KSMs), Drug Intermediates, and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), as per the Press Information 2024-25, the government disbursed ₹10,114 crore under the PLI schemes, with pharmaceutical drugs receiving ₹2,328 crore, as reported by specific incentives for GLP-1 receptor agonists under the PLI framework are anticipated. Bloomberg reported on June 28 last year that Arunish Chawla, secretary with the Department of Pharmaceuticals, confirmed a PLI scheme for drugs used in the treatment of obesity and diabetes would be introduced in 2026. This aims to support domestic production of GLP-1 government backing, combined with patent expirations, is intended to position India not just as a domestic supplier but also as a major global exporter of affordable generic is grappling with a rapidly increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, impacting not just adults but children as well. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost half of all children under five who were overweight or living with obesity in 2024 resided in Asia — underscoring the regional status as the 'Diabetes Capital of the World,' with 77 million adults living with diabetes (WHO), runs parallel with the obesity epidemic.A 2024 study published in the International Journal of Research and Review found that 29.7% of children aged 6–12 in Lucknow were overweight or obese, nearly three times the national average of 8.4%. This early trend of metabolic dysfunction provides a key 'laboratory' for studying disease progression and treatment global market for GLP-1-based weight loss drugs is projected to more than triple over the next six years, rising from $13.84 billion in 2024 to $48.84 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 18.5%, according to Grand View growth trajectory is even sharper. The domestic GLP-1 receptor agonist market, valued at $110.55 million in 2024, is expected to grow at a 34.3% CAGR from 2025 to 2030 — nearly twice the global rate. This growth is driven by rising cases of type 2 diabetes and obesity, increased R&D, patent expiries, and the expected entry of to the International Diabetes Federation's 2024 report, nearly 9 million Indian adults are currently at risk of diabetes. That figure could rise to 185 million by 2050, as projected by Grand View rising disease burden is already reshaping India's pharmaceutical market. PharmaTrac data shows the anti-obesity drug market in India reached ₹628 crore as of June 2025, a fivefold increase over five years, driven by GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide. With a 46% CAGR, this is now the fastest-growing therapeutic segment in the Indian pharma space. GLP-1s account for 75% of the market by booming demand, manufacturing GLP-1 drugs remains technically challenging. These peptide-based therapies require advanced facilities, significant investment, and specialised expertise. Delivery devices like injection pens add further complexity to the supply battles are already unfolding. In May, Novo Nordisk sued Dr. Reddy's and OneSource Specialty in Delhi High Court, seeking to block domestic sales of their semaglutide generics. For now, Indian companies can continue to manufacture and export the the global potential is massive. Goldman Sachs now estimates the anti-obesity drug market could hit $95 billion by 2030.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Obesity lab: India becomes ground zero for weight-loss drug race
India is rapidly transforming into a crucial focal point for the global weight management industry, serving as both a significant market for novel anti-obesity drugs and a burgeoning hub for the production of their more affordable generic versions. This dual role is driven by an escalating obesity crisis within the country, coupled with the impending patent expirations of blockbuster weight loss medications and robust government incentives. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Project Management Technology Others others CXO Design Thinking healthcare Finance Digital Marketing Data Science Data Analytics PGDM Cybersecurity Leadership Artificial Intelligence Data Science Operations Management Degree MBA MCA Product Management Management Healthcare Public Policy Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Project Planning & Governance Agile Software Development Practices Project Management Tools & Software Techniques Scrum Framework Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Programme in IT Project Management Starts on Jun 20, 2024 Get Details Global pharmaceutical giants like Novo Nordisk have recently launched Wegovy, intensifying competition with Eli Lilly's Mounjaro which debuted earlier this year, while Indian pharmaceutical companies such as Dr. Reddy's, Sun Pharma, Cipla, Biocon, and Lupin are actively developing their own generic versions, aiming for market entry as early as 2026 once key patents expire. Innovator drugs enter the Indian market Global pharmaceutical giants have recognised India's significant market potential, launching their advanced anti-obesity medications. Eli Lilly & Co. launched its anti-obesity drug, Mounjaro (Tirzepatide), in India in March 2025. The company introduced the drug in a single-dose vial after receiving marketing authorisation from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). Live Events According to data compiled by Pharmarack, Mounjaro recorded sales of nearly ₹24 crore in its first three months (March–May). More recent data from ET indicates Mounjaro's usage doubled in June, with sales value growing by 18% to ₹50 crore for that month alone. The Economic Times reported that a 2.5 mg vial of Mounjaro is priced at ₹3,500, and a 5 mg vial at ₹4,375, translating to ₹14,000–17,500 per month depending on weekly dose. A six-month treatment could cost about ₹1 lakh. Sales of 2.5 mg injections rose to ₹5.08 crore in May from ₹4.80 crore in April and ₹1.42 crore in March, when it was launched, according to PharmaTrac data. Danish firm Novo Nordisk also launched its anti-obesity drug, Wegovy (Semaglutide 2.4 mg), in major Indian cities on June 24. Originally planned for 2026, Novo Nordisk advanced Wegovy's launch to mid-2025 to directly challenge Mounjaro and capitalise on rising demand. Wegovy is available in five dose strengths in India. The 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg versions are priced at ₹4,336.25. The monthly cost would be ₹17,345, similar to Mounjaro. The 1.7 mg dose is priced at ₹24,280, and the 2.4 mg version at ₹26,015 for a month's supply. India's growing middle and upper-middle classes can afford higher-cost treatments, making the country attractive to drug innovators. For example, Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, priced between ₹14,000–17,500 per month, has already seen significant uptake. Novo Nordisk's oral semaglutide drug, Rybelsus, launched in January 2022, has grown from ₹26 crore to ₹412 crore, commanding a two-thirds share of the GLP-1 market. Eli Lilly's tirzepatide-based Mounjaro, introduced in March 2025, clocked ₹50 crore in sales within its first quarter, capturing 8% of the market. Unit sales jumped from 11,637 in March to nearly 88,000 by June, nearly half of which were the 2.5 mg starter dose, indicating high patient onboarding and adherence. Novo Nordisk's injectable Wegovy, launched in late June 2025, sold 1,788 units worth ₹2.53 crore across five dosage strengths, likely driven by patients previously using imported versions. India's middle and upper-middle classes are now not just ablea to afford premium treatments: they're willing to. A once-unthinkable ₹15,000/month drug like Mounjaro is gaining real traction. That's not just a signal of rising income, it's a shift in mindset: people are prioritising preventive and lifestyle healthcare. Novo Nordisk's Rybelsus growing 15x in two years shows this isn't a one-off. It's a trend. And with Mounjaro hitting ₹50 crore in just one quarter, the demand for GLP-1s, whether for diabetes or weight loss, is real and scaling fast. High uptake of low starter doses also suggests something else: these aren't just prescriptions handed out to a few elite patients. Doctors are onboarding a lot of new users, and those users are sticking with the meds, at least through the early stages. For the right kind of innovative drugs, especially in chronic lifestyle conditions, it's becoming a viable, profitable market even at global price points. Generic tsunami looms as patents near expiry The landscape of weight management drugs in India is poised for a significant shift with the impending patent expirations of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, a class of medications used for both type 2 diabetes and obesity. Key patents for semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, are set to expire around January 2026 in some regions and sometime next year in India. This "patent cliff" is a major catalyst for Indian generic manufacturers and Indian pharmaceutical companies are readying to bring in a range of generic versions of Novo Nordisk's semaglutide. The move could open up cheaper access to weight-loss and diabetes drugs, possibly setting off a generics boom worth billions. Novo Nordisk's semaglutide franchise generated $17 billion from Ozempic and $8.4 billion from Wegovy in 2024 alone, as per the company's 2024 annual financial results. Patents for semaglutide are expected to lapse in over 100 countries, including Canada (January 2026), Brazil (March 2026), and India. Indian pharma prepares to scale up Now, major Indian players, including Dr. Reddy's, Biocon, Sun Pharma, Cipla, Lupin, and Aurobindo Pharma, are positioning themselves strategically. Bengaluru-based OneSource Specialty Pharma is investing $100 million to scale up production, anticipating a revenue jump to $400 million within three years. Neeraj Sharma, CEO of OneSource, said in a media interview, 'Semaglutide will be a big part of it,' citing growing demand. Dr. Reddy's CFO MV Narasimham stated that the company is ready for a "high-volume, low-cost" market and has end-to-end capabilities, as reported by Moneycontrol. Dr. Reddy's, which has been developing semaglutide for over a decade, is preparing for a global rollout, including injectable and oral formulations. Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw called the opportunity "very huge," noting the company's unique portfolio of GLP-1s and insulins. Biocon has already launched oral GLP-1 diabetes drug Liraglutide in the UK. Biocon received CDSCO approval for its generic Liraglutide substance and product on June 2. It was also the first generic Liraglutide approved in the UK (March 2024), launched in February 2025, and approved in the EU (December 2024), demonstrating India's capability in complex peptide manufacturing. Zydus Lifesciences is investing over ₹100 crore ($12 million) in a new manufacturing facility using proprietary technology to produce cost-effective semaglutide, as per Moneycontrol. Hyderabad-based Divi's Laboratories, a key supplier of semaglutide components, has reported strong growth in its peptide business amid rising global demand, with HSBC projecting it to generate around $450 million in revenue from peptides by 2030. Cipla signals intent to join the fray Cipla, a major Indian drug firm, is actively preparing to enter the weight management segment in India. As reported by PTI on July 13, Umang Vohra, Cipla's MD and Global CEO, stated in the company's Annual Report for 2024-25, 'Obesity is emerging as a priority area for Cipla. With a clear strategic intent, we are preparing to enter the weight management segment in India, aiming to address the rising demand for effective obesity solutions.' Cipla's consolidated revenue stood at ₹27,548 crore in FY25, with a net profit of ₹5,272 crore. Government support and 'Make in India' for global export The Indian government is actively supporting domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing through its Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. With an outlay of ₹1.97 lakh crore across 14 sectors, the scheme aims to boost the production of complex drugs, including Key Starting Materials (KSMs), Drug Intermediates, and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), as per the Press Information Bureau. In 2024-25, the government disbursed ₹10,114 crore under the PLI schemes, with pharmaceutical drugs receiving ₹2,328 crore, as reported by ET. Further, specific incentives for GLP-1 receptor agonists under the PLI framework are anticipated. Bloomberg reported on June 28 last year that Arunish Chawla, secretary with the Department of Pharmaceuticals, confirmed a PLI scheme for drugs used in the treatment of obesity and diabetes would be introduced in 2026. This aims to support domestic production of GLP-1 drugs. This government backing, combined with patent expirations, is intended to position India not just as a domestic supplier but also as a major global exporter of affordable generic GLP-1s. India's escalating obesity crisis India is grappling with a rapidly increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, impacting not just adults but children as well. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost half of all children under five who were overweight or living with obesity in 2024 resided in Asia — underscoring the regional impact. India's status as the 'Diabetes Capital of the World,' with 77 million adults living with diabetes (WHO), runs parallel with the obesity epidemic. A 2024 study published in the International Journal of Research and Review found that 29.7% of children aged 6–12 in Lucknow were overweight or obese, nearly three times the national average of 8.4%. This early trend of metabolic dysfunction provides a key 'laboratory' for studying disease progression and treatment responses. Also Read: Nearly 44 crore Indians will likely be obese by 2050: PM Modi sounds alarm over obesity report; calls it 'dangerous' Market projections and challenges ahead The global market for GLP-1-based weight loss drugs is projected to more than triple over the next six years, rising from $13.84 billion in 2024 to $48.84 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 18.5%, according to Grand View Research. India's growth trajectory is even sharper. The domestic GLP-1 receptor agonist market, valued at $110.55 million in 2024, is expected to grow at a 34.3% CAGR from 2025 to 2030 — nearly twice the global rate. This growth is driven by rising cases of type 2 diabetes and obesity, increased R&D, patent expiries, and the expected entry of generics. According to the International Diabetes Federation's 2024 report, nearly 9 million Indian adults are currently at risk of diabetes. That figure could rise to 185 million by 2050, as projected by Grand View Research. This rising disease burden is already reshaping India's pharmaceutical market. PharmaTrac data shows the anti-obesity drug market in India reached ₹628 crore as of June 2025, a fivefold increase over five years, driven by GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide. With a 46% CAGR, this is now the fastest-growing therapeutic segment in the Indian pharma space. GLP-1s account for 75% of the market by value. Despite booming demand, manufacturing GLP-1 drugs remains technically challenging. These peptide-based therapies require advanced facilities, significant investment, and specialised expertise. Delivery devices like injection pens add further complexity to the supply chain. Legal battles are already unfolding. In May, Novo Nordisk sued Dr. Reddy's and OneSource Specialty in Delhi High Court, seeking to block domestic sales of their semaglutide generics. For now, Indian companies can continue to manufacture and export the drug. Still, the global potential is massive. Goldman Sachs now estimates the anti-obesity drug market could hit $95 billion by 2030.
