Novo Nordisk has filed a lawsuit in Delhi High Court. The suit aims to stop Dr Reddy's Laboratories and OneSource from selling semaglutide in India. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Wegovy. The court has restrained the Indian companies from selling the drug domestically. However, they can still manufacture and export it. The next hearing is scheduled for August 19.
However, the court, in an interim order Thursday, has not barred the Indian companies from manufacturing and exporting the drug. “The defendants have alicence to manufacture the impugned drug, which was granted in December 2024, and have begun manufacturing the drug in April 2025,” noted the order uploaded late Friday.
It added that “the defendants reserve their right to export the impugned drug in countries where the plaintiff has not been granted a patent yet”.
Novo Nordisk on May 26 filed a patent infringement suit against Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s and contract drugmaker OneSource before the Delhi HC. This was a countermove after Dr Reddy’s on May 14 moved the HC seeking revocation of Novo Nordisk’s patent for semaglutide—the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, the Danish firm’s popular obesity and diabetes drugs. Novo Nordisk has alleged that Dr Reddy’s and OneSource are importing large quantities of semaglutide active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) into India, and using it to manufacture and export formulations.
Live Events
This violated Novo’s patent rights, it claimed.
Next Hearing on Aug 19
A single-judge bench of the Delhi HC has posted the matter for further hearing on August 19, along with Dr Reddy’s patent challenge, a senior lawyer told ET.
Legal experts expect Novo Nordisk to appeal the interim order before a division bench as the single bench has not restrained the Indian companies from exporting semaglutide. “Novo Nordisk is taking active steps to protect its inventions in India,” a company spokesperson said. The company said its semaglutide patents are protected in India and it expects continued support and protection of innovation in the country. “However, we would not like to comment on a sub-judice matter,” the spokesperson added.
In a statement to ET, a Dr Reddy’s spokesperson said, “The matter is currently sub judice. We are unable to comment on it at this time.”
A spokesperson for OneSource, too, declined comment citing the same reason.
In a 650-page petition, Novo Nordisk said it became aware of the infringements of its valid patent number IN 262697 in India in October and November 2024.
Agencies
ETPrime Membership
