Court Ruling In India Shakes Up Global Market On Weight Loss Drugs
Indian drugmaker Dr. Reddy's Laboratories will be allowed to make a generic version of Novo Nordisk's semaglutide and export it even before some of Novo's global patents expire in 2026.
An Indian court has allowed Dr. Reddy鈥檚 Laboratories Ltd. to manufacture and export generic versions of Novo Nordisk A/S鈥檚 obesity and diabetes drugs, ahead of global patent expiries in 2026. Novo Nordisk鈥檚 petition to block production of semaglutide was rejected by the Delhi High Court in its Dec. 2 interim order. The court allowed Dr. Reddy鈥檚 to export to markets without patent protection, while accepting the Indian company鈥檚 commitment that it will not sell the products in the local market until Novo鈥檚 patent lapses. (Mahajan and Sanjay, 12/4)
Novo Nordisk says it still thinks GLP-1 drugs could be a promising treatment for Alzheimer鈥檚, despite two major trials last month that found an older drug similar to Ozempic had no effect in slowing early-stage disease. While GLP-1 drugs have become synonymous with dramatic weight loss, they鈥檝e also become one of the most closely watched experimental approaches for slowing Alzheimer鈥檚, a disease with few treatment options. (Lovelace Jr., 12/4)
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