Ozempic’s Desi Versions Flood India, But Market Growth Hits Brakes

Published 9 June 2026 · india

Ozempic’s Desi Versions Flood India, But Market Growth Hits Brakes Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: June 09, 2026, 08:37 IST Two drugs dominate the

Ozempic’s Desi Versions Flood India, But Market Growth Hits Brakes Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: June 09, 2026, 08:37 IST Two drugs dominate the market: tirzepatide or Mounjaro and semaglutide or Ozempic. Together, they account for nearly all sales in the anti-obesity segment Rapid Read Among 35 brands made by 17 different companies, only seven saw sales growth in May. India’s booming weight-loss drug market has reached a Rs 2,000-crore milestone, but the breakneck growth that defined the past year is losing speed, data shows. After an explosion in affordable versions of two blockbuster medications—Ozempic (Semaglutide) and Mounjaro (Tirzepatide), sales are now plateauing, raising hard questions about whether the surge actually reflected true patient demand or simply a one-time rush to cheaper options. The slowdown, in Pharmarack’s latest market data through May, shows that the initial frenzy around affordable weight-loss drugs may have peaked. Growth that had been explosive is now stalling, and cheaper copycat versions are struggling to maintain their early momentum. “The generic onslaught has undoubtedly democratised access to GLP-1 therapies in India, but it has not displaced the original innovator. The latest market data reveals a dual-track ecosystem: we see massive volume stabilisation across key generic brands alongside a robust 27 per cent month-on-month growth for the innovator molecule, proving that physician confidence in original, evidence-based brands remains highly sustained," explained Dr Anoop Misra, executive chairman of Fortis C-DOC Hospital. What the Numbers Tell Us Two drugs dominate the market: tirzepatide and semaglutide. Together, they account for nearly all sales in the anti-obesity segment.

In May alone, data shows, the market saw Rs 1,906 crore in sales across all weight-loss medications. The injectable forms of semaglutide had surged to 1.9 lakh units in May, against 25,000 injections in February when the drug was under patent, as cheaper versions entered the market, making the drug accessible to millions who could not afford the original branded version. However, the tempo of growth has slowed down from March where sales jumped from 25,000 units (in February) to 63000 units and then, 1.70 lakh in April. Now, in May, unit sales stood at 1.90 lakh. “Due to economical pricing, the unit consumption on semaglutide has moved up significantly, but the tempo has slowed down," said the report. Tirzepatide, which had shown strong sales momentum through April, has also retreated to levels seen before cheaper versions were launched. Among 35 brands made by 17 different companies, only seven saw sales growth in May. Most are struggling. Some brands—like Ozempic (original version by Novo Nordisk) and a few others with large patient bases—are holding steady. But many cheaper versions face inventory piling up, especially in semaglutide, the report pointed out. Why This Matters: The Real Story Behind the Numbers The slowdown points to a fundamental question that doctors, patients, and companies now face: Did cheaper drugs actually expand the patient pool, or did they simply move existing patients from expensive brands to budget versions? In clinical practice, Misra from Fortis said, “this translates directly to a tailored approach—while I preferentially stick to the original innovator brand to ensure established clinical predictability, generics serve as an invaluable tool to bridge the access gap for patients who face significant financial barriers".