Delhi High Court Upholds Order Permitting Dr. Reddy's to Export Semaglutide

Novo Nordisk Loses Delhi High Court Ruling on Semaglutide Patent

Delhi High Court Upholds Order Allowing Dr. Reddy's to Manufacture Semaglutide

On Monday, the Delhi High Court upheld a previous order permitting Dr. Reddy's Laboratories to manufacture the diabetes and weight-loss drug semaglutide in India for export to countries where the innovator, Novo Nordisk, does not hold a patent. The division bench of justices C. Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla dismissed Novo Nordisk's appeal, ruling that the company had failed to make out a strong case for an interim injunction to restrain Dr. Reddy's from exporting the drug.

The ruling comes just days before semaglutide loses its patent exclusivity in India on 20 March 2026, allowing generics to be manufactured and marketed domestically. Novo Nordisk had challenged a previous single-judge bench's order, arguing that semaglutide lacked novelty and was not clearly distinct from earlier inventions covered by a broad "genus" patent.

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Semaglutide Patent Structure

The primary patent for the molecule expired in September 2024, while a second formulation patent is valid until March 2026. Dr. Reddy's has challenged the validity of Novo Nordisk's second patent, saying that it lacks novelty. The main dispute centers on semaglutide's patent structure.

Market Impact

The market for GLP-1s was worth ₹1,446 crore on a moving annual total basis as of February 2026, according to Pharmarack. Over 50 branded generic versions of semaglutide are expected to hit the market as the patent expires, said Pharmarack in a report dated 7 March 2026.

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Next Steps

Novo Nordisk now has the right to file an appeal to the Supreme Court against the division bench's order. The main suit, which is still pending, will continue on its own merits. If Novo Nordisk wins the case, it would be liable to collect damages from the other party.