Delhi HC clears way for Dr Reddy's to manufacture, export Ozempic-like drug, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• The Delhi High Court cleared Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (DRL) to manufacture and export a drug similar to Ozempic, as Novo Nordisk's patent on semaglutide in India is expiring soon.
• A division bench upheld a single judge's decision from December, allowing DRL to proceed with manufacturing and export.
• Novo Nordisk's patent on semaglutide, used for Type 2 diabetes and obesity, is set to expire on March 20, 2026.
• The court noted that DRL presented a credible challenge to the validity of Novo Nordisk's patent.

Detailed Insights:

• The drug in question belongs to the GLP-1 class and is used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity, conditions with increasing prevalence globally.
• DRL invoked provisions of the Patents Act to contest the validity of Novo Nordisk's patent, even though they had been exporting and importing the drug for development.
• The court emphasized the importance of considering the principles of balance of convenience and irreparable loss, especially when the patent's expiration is imminent.
• The court questioned the need to spend valuable time on the appeal, considering the short remaining validity period of the patent and the backlog of urgent cases.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Semaglutide: A GLP-1 receptor agonist medication used for treating Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
• Patent: A legal right granted to an inventor to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period.
• GLP-1: Glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone that stimulates insulin release and reduces glucagon secretion.