New Delhi, April 1 -- On Tuesday, Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk slashed prices of its blockbuster weight-loss and type-2 diabetes drugs Ozempic and Wegovy by up to 48%, as it faces mounting pressure from local drugmakers who have launched copycat versions at half the cost.

Semaglutide, the 'miracle' active ingredient behind the drugs, lost patent exclusivity in India on 20 March, and nearly all Indian formulators are eyeing its lucrative market, sparking a cut-throat competition of an intensity rarely seen before. The pricing war portends the anticipated market expansion of the weight loss drug market. While the expansion will make these drugs more accessible to a wider group of patients, there are also concerns over increasing misuse. ...