India’s Zydus, Lupin sign deal to co‑market Semaglutide injections

March 17 (Reuters) – Indian drugmakers Zydus Lifesciences and Lupin have signed a licensing and supply deal on Tuesday to co‑market semaglutide injections in the country ahead of the ingredient’s patent expiry.

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used to treat Type 2 Diabetes and, increasingly, for weight management by helping regulate blood sugar and appetite.

The upcoming patent expiry for semaglutide has triggered a rush among Indian drugmakers to develop cheaper versions to capture market share in the world’s most populous nation, which has the second-highest number of adults with diabetes after China.

Here are some key details:

* Lupin will have semi‑exclusive rights to co‑market Zydus’injection under the brand names Semanext and Lupin’s Livarise. * Lupin will pay Zydus upfront licensing fees andmilestone-based payments. * Zydus will manufacture the product at its Ahmedabadfacility in Gujarat, and market the product under the brandnames Semaglyntm, Mashematm And Alterme. * Unlike existing treatments that require multiplesingle-use pens, Zydus’ single-adjustable pen will allowpatients select different doses, lowering costs. * In January, Zydus received approval from India’s regulatorto make and sell generic versions of the weight-loss drugs. * Larger peer Dr Reddy’s Laboratories is likely to launchits generic semaglutide injection in March under the brand nameObeda, Reuters reported last month.

(Reporting by Urvi Dugar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)