Chennai – Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. (BSE: 500124, NSE: DRREDDY, NYSE: RDY, NSEIFSC: DRREDDY; along with its subsidiaries together referred to as “Dr. Reddy’s”), a global pharmaceutical company, today announced the launch of its injectable semaglutide under the brand name Obeda®, marking an important step in expanding access to advanced GLP‑1 receptor agonist–based therapy for the management of type 2 diabetes in India. Dr. Reddy’s has been the first Indian company to receive Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approval for generic semaglutide. This launch underscores the company’s Day‑1 entry into the segment upon patent expiry, demonstrating its readiness to serve unmet patient needs in India.
India faces one of the world’s largest diabetes burdens, with over 101 million adults living with the condition, according to the ICMR‑INDIAB study. The study estimates diabetes prevalence at 11.4%, with nearly four in ten adults experiencing abdominal obesity. An additional 136 million individuals are estimated to be pre‑diabetic, placing them at high risk of developing the disease. In such a scenario, semaglutide, a GLP‑1 receptor agonist, has a globally proven track record in improving glycaemic control and supporting weight management when used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
In a head‑to‑head Phase III clinical study enrolling 312 participants, Dr. Reddy’s Obeda® established non‑inferior efficacy and a safety profile comparable to the innovator drug. It showed similar glycaemic reduction. Additionally, comparable results were observed for fasting glucose control, post‑prandial glucose control, and therapeutic glycaemic response (achieving HbA1c <7.0%) at the end of the study. No anti‑drug antibodies were detected, and the immunogenicity profile was similar to that of the innovator drug.
With both API development and manufacturing, as well as formulation development conducted entirely in‑house, Obeda® reflects Dr. Reddy’s strength in complex product development and peptide science. It also showcases the company’s decade‑long expertise in peptide technology and its commitment to bringing GLP‑1 therapies to market to ensure access to high‑quality, affordable medicines and addressing India’s evolving healthcare needs. As part of its future plans for GLP-1 therapies, the company will be looking at a fully integrated API and formulation approach, encompassing both development and manufacturing in-house.
Erez Israeli, Chief Executive Officer of Dr. Reddy’s, said: “Today’s launch marks a significant step in our commitment to expand our portfolio in critical therapeutic areas with differentiated solutions to patients in India and across global markets. Our foray into GLP-1 therapies reflects our capabilities in complex product development and peptide science. It reinforces our vision to be a trusted partner in healthcare by combining innovation with access, ensuring advanced diabetes treatments are not only available but affordable. As part of phase-1 launch, we aim to introduce generic semaglutide in several countries and, through our ‘One Product, One Quality’ approach, we are committed to ensure the same high‑quality product across all markets.”
M.V. Ramana, Chief Executive Officer, Branded Markets (India and Emerging Markets), Dr. Reddy’s, said: “As the first generic semaglutide approved in the country, today’s announcement reflects our science‑led approach and our long‑standing efforts in expanding access to advanced therapies in India. With the country facing a rapidly rising diabetes burden, we aim to offer effective treatment options and enable more patients to benefit from globally established therapies. The launch of this important drug strengthens our diabetes portfolio and reinforces our broader commitment to improving long‑term health outcomes for people living with chronic metabolic diseases. GLP‑1 therapies represent an important area of focus for us, and we will continue working toward building a full‑breadth portfolio for multiple metabolic indications across all formats.”
Dr. Reddy’s Obeda® injection is available in 2 mg and 4 mg strengths and comes in a pre‑filled, disposable pen designed for subcutaneous, once‑a-week administration, with robust cold‑chain integrity maintained throughout distribution. Each pen of both strengths will deliver a minimum of 4 weekly doses. The cost to the patient will be INR 4,200 per month for both the strengths. Additionally, in a human‑factors study involving 41 participants completing approximately 20 key tasks aligned with the USFDA’s guidance for drug–device combination products, the Obeda® pen demonstrated non‑inferior user‑performance outcomes compared with the innovator pen.
As part of its patient support programme for Obeda®, Dr. Reddy’s has developed SemaKare™, a comprehensive support system to enhance and streamline the patient journey. Supported by a digital app, SemaKare™ offers onboarding guidance, field device‑counsellor assistance, injection training, tele‑support, therapy‑adherence monitoring, and so on, to help improve treatment outcomes for patients.
Further, Dr. Reddy’s aims to build an integrated care ecosystem by setting up metabolic centres of excellence across India. These centres will serve as integrated hubs for advancing diabetes and other metabolic disorders treatment by focusing on healthcare professional (HCP) education, evidence-based management, and real-world evidence generation. The initiative will help in strengthening diagnostic capabilities and infrastructure, while building the skills of support staff through structured training programmes. Also, the centres will drive patient awareness and empowerment initiatives, ensuring individuals are better informed and engaged in their care journey. The centres will also feature dedicated drop box to ensure the safe and sustainable disposal of used pens. Additionally, Dr. Reddy’s aims to address the nutritional requirements of patients on GLP‑1/GIP therapies by leveraging key products from its joint venture, Dr. Reddy’s Nestlé Health Science, including Celevida GLP+, Optifast and so on. These products support improved nutrient intake and muscle mass maintenance, offering targeted nutrition that is essential for sustaining metabolic and functional health.
Dr. Reddy’s Obeda® is a prescription-based drug. Patients are advised to consult their doctors for more details.
