Top News

Health Desk:

In India, at least one person in every family has to face the problem of diabetes or obesity. Lakhs of people are struggling with this situation every day. Now, there is a positive news for all of them. Semaglutide, a drug famous worldwide for weight loss, has now become accessible to common people in the Indian market. The patent of this important molecule expired on March 20, after which Indian pharma companies have started launching its cheaper and generic versions in the market. India’s GLP-1 market may soon reach $1 billion. Companies like Dr. Reddy’s are planning to export this medicine to other global markets including Canada.

huge reduction in prices

Till now, there was a monopoly on foreign and branded versions of this drug like Ozempic or Wegovy, for which patients had to spend around Rs 11,000 every month. But now the situation has completely changed with the entry of Indian companies. Leading pharma company Zydus Lifesciences has introduced a reusable injection pen of Semaglutide in the market. Now the cost of one month’s treatment has come down to around Rs 2,200. Apart from this, more than 40 companies like Sun Pharma, Dr. Reddy’s, Lupine and Mankind are going to join this sector soon. Health experts believe that due to competition the prices may come down to Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500 in future.

increasing demand for medicine

Semaglutide actually mimics the GLP-1 hormone in the body and has several important benefits:

Benefit:

• It improves the insulin level in the body.
• Slows down the process of emptying the stomach, which reduces appetite.
• According to clinical trials, this can reduce body weight by 10 to 15%.
• It has been proven in the SUSTAIN-6 study that this medicine reduces the risk of heart attack by 26% and the risk of stroke by 39%.

doctors warning

Lower prices for the drug would make it easier to obtain for patients who previously could not afford it, but health experts have raised concerns about its abuse. Since this medicine causes rapid weight loss, people can use it only for cosmetic weight loss. Doctors have given a clear warning that this is a prescription drug, which should not be taken without medical supervision and a diet plan. Its improper use can cause problems like nausea, inflammation in pancreas, gall bladder and serious kidney diseases.