Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster semaglutide, famed for its weight-loss properties, went off-patent on Friday, triggering an avalanche of affordable copycats from Sun Pharmaceuticals, Zydus Lifesciences, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Alkem Laboratories, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and others. Alarmed about the potential for misuse, the DGCI issued the directive to state licensing authorities at a meeting of the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) last week, two people aware of the matter said.
