MUMBAI, March 21 -- A day after semaglutide lost patent protection in India, top drugmakers including Dr Reddy's, Sun Pharma, and Zydus Lifesciences launched generic versions priced 50-90% below the innovator brands, kicking off an aggressive scramble for share in the fast-growing weight-loss and diabetes market.

The wave of launches marks a pivotal shift for India's nascent GLP-1 market, where high prices had until now limited access despite surging global demand for the therapy.

GLP-1 ((glucagon-like peptide-1) drugs such as semaglutide work by mimicking a natural hormone that signals the brain to feel full and slows down digestion, helping one eat less and lose weight more effectively. Innovator Novo Nordisk launched its semaglutide ...