Wegovy War Erupts: Novo Nordisk vs Dr Reddy in High Stakes Patent Fight
Inside the Wegovy War: How Novo Nordisk Is Battling Dr. Reddy’s Over Patent
Novo Nordisk has taken Dr. Reddy’s to court over semaglutide, the key to Wegovy and Ozempic, sparking a fierce patent battle as India’s obesity drug market explodes.
💊 Wegovy, War, and the Weight Loss Gold Rush: Inside Novo Nordisk’s Patent Battle Against Dr. Reddy’s
In the high-stakes world of blockbuster obesity drugs, the battlefield has moved beyond labs and clinics—straight into the courtroom. In what’s shaping up to be a defining legal showdown, Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has launched a patent infringement lawsuit against Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and OneSource Specialty Pharma in India’s Delhi High Court. The prize? Semaglutide, the powerhouse molecule behind Novo’s globally dominant drugs Wegovy and Ozempic.
This isn’t just another pharma spat. It’s a legal drama with billions at stake, as India’s anti-obesity drug market surges past ₹576 crore in 2025 and global demand for GLP-1 receptor agonists reaches a fever pitch.
⚖️ The Case So Far: Court’s Interim Ruling
On May 29, 2025, Justice Amit Bansal of the Delhi High Court handed down an interim injunction. It barred Dr. Reddy’s and OneSource from selling semaglutide within India, pending further hearings. However, the ruling did allow both companies to manufacture and export the drug to countries where Novo Nordisk does not hold a valid patent.
The decision followed arguments from Dr. Reddy’s legal heavyweights, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Mukul Rohatgi, who emphasized that their client was not marketing the drug in India, only exporting it—a technical but critical distinction under India’s patent law.
🧬 The Molecule at the Center: Semaglutide
Semaglutide has become something of a celebrity in the pharmaceutical world. Originally developed for diabetes, it gained worldwide attention as a weight-loss miracle, with Wegovy and Ozempic now household names. In India, semaglutide sales reached ₹397 crore by March 2025—proof of its explosive demand.
But Novo Nordisk holds the Indian patent (IN 262697) for semaglutide, and claims that any form of unauthorized manufacturing or exporting infringes on its intellectual property rights. Even though the patent expires in March 2026, the company insists that infringement now undermines both innovation and commercial exclusivity.
🛡️ Dr. Reddy’s Fights Back: “This Is Evergreening”
In a bold move, Dr. Reddy’s filed a revocation petition, challenging the very legitimacy of Novo’s semaglutide patent. Their argument? The innovation isn’t really new. They claim that the patented molecule simply substitutes Alanine with Aib at the 8th position, something already disclosed in an earlier Novo patent. This tactic, known as “evergreening,” is a controversial way companies allegedly prolong patent protection beyond the intended period.
It’s a serious accusation. If the court agrees, it could pave the way for generic competition in India—and potentially around the world—well before 2026.
🌍 Why This Matters: The Global Semaglutide Boom
This court battle isn’t just a domestic affair. With Eli Lilly’s rival drug Mounjaro already entering global markets and semaglutide patents expiring in countries like Canada and India by 2026, Indian drugmakers see a golden opportunity.
Companies like Cipla, Lupin, and Glenmark are already circling the waters, eyeing the semaglutide pie. If Dr. Reddy’s wins or even weakens the patent’s enforceability, India could become a global export hub for affordable GLP-1 generics.
📈 Market Impact and Investor Reaction
The legal blowback was immediate. After the interim ruling, Dr. Reddy’s and OneSource’s parent firm saw their shares fall by up to 3% on June 3, 2025. Investors clearly took note of the risks: while exports are still allowed, the ban on Indian sales delays potential domestic profits.
Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk is racing to launch Wegovy in India earlier than planned, now targeting 2025 instead of 2026. The company knows that once generics enter the market, price pressure and volume competition are inevitable.
👩⚖️ What’s Next: August 19 Hearing & Broader Implications
The court has scheduled the next major hearing for August 19, 2025, where more substantial arguments will be heard. Patent experts believe this case could become a “test precedent” for future pharmaceutical IP litigation in India, particularly concerning manufacturing for export.
“The real question,” says Ramesh Menon, an IP attorney with LexPharm India, “is whether exporting a patented drug from India—without marketing it domestically—is enough to trigger infringement. This case will set the tone for how India balances innovation with access.”
🎯 The Bigger Picture
This case is about far more than just Dr. Reddy’s or Novo Nordisk. It’s about how India defines the rules in a global pharmaceutical economy increasingly driven by chronic conditions like obesity, innovation via biologics and peptides, and the push-pull between affordable generics and brand-name exclusivity.
For now, semaglutide remains a molecule under siege—caught between legal lines, ethical debates, and billions of dollars. And the war for weight loss supremacy is just heating up.
🗞️ Sources:
- Delhi High Court Orders, May 2025
- India Today (March 2025)
- Precedence Research (2025)
- BusinessLine Pharma Reports (2025)
- Company Statements from Dr. Reddy’s and Novo Nordisk