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When did semaglutide's patent expire in India?

GLP Guidebook teamUpdated 5 Oct 202614 sourcesWritten from published sources
The short answer

On 20 March 2026. That is when Novo Nordisk's Indian patent No. 262697 on semaglutide, the medicine in Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, reached the end of its 20-year term, according to the Delhi High Court. Indian companies announced generic versions on 20 and 21 March. A separate patent on semaglutide tablets is still being enforced. Semaglutide remains prescription-only in India.

Before you go further
  • GLP‑1 medicines such as semaglutide are prescription-only in India, not sold over the counter.1,2
  • A government statement on 1 Apr 2026 said only endocrinologists, internal-medicine specialists and cardiologists can prescribe them.1,2 CDSCO expert-committee minutes attach a similar condition to some approvals (endocrinologist or internal-medicine specialist), but we found no rule covering every brand.3,4
  • The risks are in Guide 5: Side effects and risks. Guide 6 covers recalls.
  • Nothing here recommends a brand or promises any result.

Which semaglutide patent expired on 20 March 2026?

Patent No. 262697, which covers the semaglutide compound itself, expired on 20 March 2026, 20 years after Novo Nordisk's international filing.5,6

The Delhi High Court's December 2025 judgment sets out the patent's record. Novo filed the international application on 20 March 2006, and India granted the patent on 5 September 2014.5 An older, broader "genus" patent (No. 275964) had already expired on 17 September 2024.5 The court's interim (prima facie) view was that this older patent also disclosed semaglutide.5

At least one news report gives 26 March 2026.7 That date appears once in the December judgment. But the patent's record in the same judgment, and the March 2026 appeal ruling, both say 20 March.5,6

What did the Delhi High Court rule before the patent expired?

The Delhi High Court let Dr Reddy's make semaglutide in India for export, but barred it from selling in India until the patent expired.5

Novo Nordisk sued Dr Reddy's on 26 May 2025.5 On 2 December 2025, Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora refused Novo's request for a temporary ban (an interim injunction). She found that Dr Reddy's had raised a credible challenge to the patent's validity.5 Dr Reddy's could export only to countries where Novo held no patent, and had to keep accounts.5

On 9 March 2026, Justices C. Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla dismissed Novo's appeal.6 They wrote that after 20 March 2026 the patent "would be open to exploitation by the world at large".6 These were interim rulings. Any damages are left until after the full trial.5

Who launched generic semaglutide when the patent expired?

Natco announced its generic semaglutide launch on 20 March 2026, the day the patent expired, and several other Indian makers launched on 21 March.8,9,10

Natco had approval from India's drugs regulator (CDSCO) since February 2026, for vials and pens.8 Eris launched its own brand the same day.8 On 21 March, makers including Dr Reddy's, Zydus, Alkem, Sun Pharma and Glenmark launched theirs, calling it "Day 1 entry".10 The IP news site ip fray reports that Torrent was cleared to enter hours before the patent expired.11 Dr Reddy's said it was the first Indian company to get approval for generic semaglutide.10

Generic or not, semaglutide still needs a prescription in India.1 Our post on India's semaglutide brands and their MRPs lists each maker without ranking them. What changed when the patent expired covers prices and Novo's response.

Do any of Novo's semaglutide patents still run in India?

Yes. Novo is still enforcing a patent covering semaglutide tablets, which ip fray reports will run until 2031.11

That patent, No. 325669, claims a range of SNAC, an ingredient that helps the tablet get absorbed.12 On 20 March 2026, Torrent told the Delhi High Court its tablets use less SNAC than that range. The court recorded Torrent's promise to stay outside it.12 Dr Reddy's gave a similar promise.13

On 11 August 2026, in a separate suit over Novo's tablet patent, the court told Sun Pharma to seek its approval before launching semaglutide tablets. The case is next listed before the Joint Registrar on 4 November 2026.14 We found no reported case on a patent for semaglutide injections or pens that is still in force. Guide 6 explains brand versus generic.

Read the full picture

Related questions

Is semaglutide the same as Ozempic? Is Ozempic available in India? What is the MRP of Ozempic in India? Do you need a prescription for GLP-1 medicines in India?
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Sources

  1. PIB Research (Government of India). GLP-1 Drugs: Use, Risks, and Regulation. Backgrounder, 1 Apr 2026. pib.gov.in (PDF)
  2. Outlook India. Inspections, surveillance to continue against unauthorised sale, promotion of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs: govt, 1 Apr 2026. outlookindia.com
  3. CDSCO. Recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee (Endocrinology & Metabolism), 100th meeting, 20–21 Apr 2023, item 1 (tirzepatide, Eli Lilly). Committee minutes, not the final permission. cdsco.gov.in (PDF) · archived copy, 4 Oct 2026
  4. CDSCO. Recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee (Endocrinology & Metabolism), 13–14 Feb 2024, items 3–4 (semaglutide, Novo Nordisk). Committee minutes for two named products. cdsco.gov.in (PDF) · archived copy, 4 Oct 2026
  5. Delhi High Court. Novo Nordisk A/S v. Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd & Anr, CS(COMM) 565/2025, judgment of Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, 2 Dec 2025. Paras 4–6 (patent record), 10, 14.20, 19, 144, 148, 151–155. Copy hosted by Medical Dialogues. medicaldialogues.in (PDF)
  6. Delhi High Court (Division Bench). Novo Nordisk A/S v. Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd & Anr, FAO(OS)(COMM) 204/2025, judgment of 9 Mar 2026 (C. Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla, JJ). Para 3. Copy hosted by LiveLaw. livelawbiz.com (PDF)
  7. Medical Dialogues (Susmita Roy). Semaglutide patent clash: Delhi HC denies Novo Nordisk injunction, manufacturing by Dr Reddy's to continue, 5 Dec 2025. medicaldialogues.in
  8. Outlook Business (PTI). Eris, Natco announce launch of generic semaglutide brands as patent expires, 20 Mar 2026. outlookbusiness.com
  9. BusinessToday (Neetu Chandra Sharma). NATCO opens semaglutide market at ₹1,290, sets early price benchmark, 20 Mar 2026. businesstoday.in
  10. Pearce IP. Generic semaglutide launches in India, including by Dr Reddy's, Zydus, Alkem, Sun Pharma & Glenmark, 21 Mar 2026. pearceip.law
  11. ip fray. Another semaglutide generic enters India as Novo Nordisk patent expires, no injunction issues, 26 Mar 2026. ipfray.com
  12. LiveLaw (Riya Rathore). Delhi High Court records interim arrangement in Novo Nordisk–Torrent Pharma patent dispute over semaglutide, 21 Mar 2026. CS(COMM) 272/2026, order of 20 Mar 2026. livelawbiz.com
  13. SpicyIP (Praharsh Gour). Patent's gone, war's on: inside Novo Nordisk's semaglutide litigation blitz, 25 Mar 2026 (edited note on the Dr Reddy's order). spicyip.com
  14. LiveLaw (Riya Rathore). Delhi High Court directs Sun Pharma to seek prior approval before launching semaglutide tablets, 21 Aug 2026. CS(COMM) 837/2026, order of 11 Aug 2026. livelawbiz.com

Last checked 5 Oct 2026 · Next review due 5 Apr 2027 · Report an error

How this answer was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above, including the Delhi High Court's own judgments. It's general information, not medical or legal advice. Talk to a qualified doctor before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. How we write