New Delhi: After a short slowdown, gross sales of generic variations of the weight-loss drug semaglutide recorded a robust uptake in July, in keeping with knowledge compiled by gross sales tracker PharmaTrac.
Over the previous month, mixed gross sales volumes of generics rose from 1.66 lakh items to 1.92 lakh items with incremental gross sales of Rs 6 crore, marking a pointy pickup after a two-month slowdown that had interrupted their upward trajectory.
Nonetheless, the revival stays concentrated amongst a number of manufacturers, with 11 of the 33 manufacturers accounting for 80 per cent of whole gross sales quantity.
Main the cost was Dr Reddy’s Laboratories‘ Obeda, whose gross sales greater than doubled to 1.15 lakh items in July from 55,000 items in June, whereas worth reamined muted at Rs 2 crore.
Torrent Pharma retained its lead, with its two manufacturers, Semalix and Sembic, recording incremental gross sales of two.3 lakh items. As of June, the 2 manufacturers command a transferring annual turnover (MAT) of Rs 46 crore and Rs 37 crore, respectively.
The most recent surge for the 2 corporations might reasonable in August as provides of the 2 manufacturers—Semalix and Obeda—have been disrupted as a consequence of an impurity concern within the drug’s lively ingredient.
Whereas Torrent, which procures the formulation from Dr Reddy’s, is claimed to have recognized a brand new provider and expects to function at full capability by the tip of August, the latter has guided to renew market provides solely from the “finish of October.”
Throughout the June quarter, Torrent mentioned it reported whole gross sales of Rs 50 crore and was on observe to attain its full-year goal of Rs 250 crore.
In the meantime, Dr Reddy’s, which had beforehand anticipated to promote 12 million items globally, lowered its projection to 6-7 million items for the present fiscal. Nonetheless, the corporate stays bullish on demand for the product throughout markets, together with India.
The opposite manufacturers exhibiting optimistic month-on-month traction embody, Eris Lifesciences’ Sundae, Solar Pharma’s Noveltreat and Alkem Labs’ Semasize, whereas relaxation stay muted. Their gross sales valkue nevertheless, stay comparatively low because the choose manufacturers are nonetheless rising from a small base.
Of the full generics pool, clinicians anticipate solely a handful of manufacturers to outlive the shut contest of navigating semaglutide’s drug-device combo complexity, cold-chain logistics, and the problem of constructing recall worth amongst prescribers.
Throughout interactions with analysts, corporations have acknowledged a slower-than-expected uptake of the drug however have dismissed issues of stock overhang, pointing to variations in unit economics.
Executives argue that not like oral medicines beforehand the usual of look after Kind 2 diabetes, semaglutide injectables function at a considerably greater worth level, that means comparable stock ranges might not essentially point out an oversupply state of affairs.
Innovators intact
Throughout July, the 4 innovator manufacturers of semaglutide —Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, Ozempic; Emcure’s Povitzra; and Abbot’s Extensior— collectively racked up Rs 46 crore, with further gross sales of 5000 items (pens).
“Whereas innovators preserve a gentle upward gross sales development, a number of generic manufacturers present a stronger momentum,” mentioned Sheetal Sapale, VP Industrial, Pharmarack.
In line with PharmaTrac, the manufacturers have proven regular development and retain a 50 per cent share of the estimated Rs 400 crore semaglutide injectable market. The manufacturers are additionally prone to achieve additional momentum within the coming months following the current label enlargement for the remedy of MASH.
In March, trade analysts projected the semaglutide market to achieve Rs 1,500 crore over the following 12-18 months, with generics anticipated to account for round 50 per cent of the remedy’s whole market.
The market chief Eli Lilly and its native associate Cipla, who markets a special molecule ‘tirzepatide’ have sustained their gross sales momentum and continues to occupy the top-selling tag in within the total Rs 2,200 crore anti-obesity market.
In July, Lilly’s Mounjaro racked up Rs 110 crore whereas Cipla’s Yurpeak posted Rs 31 crore.
Talking to traders earlier this week, Patrick Jonsson, govt vice-president and president of Lilly Worldwide, mentioned, “tirzepatide’s superior efficacy continues to distinguish the model and drive prescription development for the corporate in India, regardless of the entry of cheaper generic rivals.”
Notably, final 12 months in a head-to-head examine (SURMOUNT-5), tirzepatide outperformed semaglutide, exhibiting a median weight-loss of 20.2 per cent in comparison with 13.7 per cent within the Wegovy group at 72 weeks.
