In a development that could transform diabetes care for millions of Indians, Natco Pharma has joined the effort to make life-changing medications more affordable and accessible to patients across the country.

Following in the footsteps of Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Natco Pharma has approached the Delhi High Court regarding the patent status of semaglutide, a medication used to manage Type-2 diabetes. The patent, held by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, is scheduled to naturally expire in March 2026, opening doors for more affordable alternatives.

Justice Jyoti Singh of the Delhi High Court has taken up the matter and scheduled a hearing for February 5, marking another step forward in what could become a watershed moment for diabetes patients in India.

What makes this particularly exciting is the potential impact on healthcare accessibility. Senior advocate J Sai Deepak, representing Natco Pharma, highlighted that the company has approached the court proactively before beginning manufacturing, demonstrating a commitment to following proper legal procedures while preparing to serve patients.

The timing couldn't be better for Indian patients. Novo Nordisk launched Ozempic, its semaglutide product for Type-2 diabetes, in India just last month. Once generic versions become available after the patent expiration, the cost difference could be transformative. As one Delhi High Court case noted last year, treatment costs could potentially drop from Rs 18 lakh to Rs 48,000 monthly, making therapy affordable within regular salaries for the first time.

Several major Indian pharmaceutical companies—including Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Alkem Laboratories, Sun Pharmaceuticals, and Zydus Lifesciences—are all preparing to enter this space, signaling robust competition that typically drives prices down even further while ensuring steady supply.

The collaborative spirit extends beyond India's borders. Natco Pharma has partnered with Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc for developing generic versions, and the two companies recently reached a settlement with Novo Nordisk in US patent litigation, paving the way for future collaboration.

The expiration of the basic composition patent in September 2024 has already opened doors for potential generic development, and with the formulation patent expiring in March 2026, Indian manufacturers are positioning themselves to quickly bring affordable options to market.

This matters enormously because diabetes affects over 77 million adults in India, making it the second-highest affected country globally. Many patients struggle to afford cutting-edge treatments, often settling for older medications or inadequate care. Semaglutide represents a significant advancement in diabetes management, and its availability in affordable generic form could meaningfully improve quality of life for countless families.

Beyond diabetes management, semaglutide formulations have shown promise for weight loss and are now available in various forms including pills and injectables globally, suggesting even broader future applications.

The legal process demonstrates India's robust intellectual property framework working as intended—protecting innovation during patent periods while ensuring that once protections expire, competition can flourish and bring benefits to patients who need them most.

As February's hearing approaches, there's genuine hope that India's pharmaceutical sector will soon deliver another example of its strength: making world-class medications accessible to ordinary people at prices they can actually afford.