New Delhi:
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday allowed Sun Pharma to continue manufacturing and exporting its semaglutide formulation the active ingredient in Ozempic, the diabetes and weight-loss blockbuster drug marketed by Novo Nordisk while prohibiting any sale within India until Novo Nordisk’s patent expires.
The order came after Sun Pharma assured the Court that its product would be shipped only to countries where Novo Nordisk does not have patent protection. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora directed the company to file a formal affidavit within two weeks confirming this undertaking.
The Court also noted that Sun Pharma has already begun manufacturing the drug. It further directed the company to submit quarterly account statements detailing export figures up to March 2026, similar to requirements imposed in an earlier related suit.
Context: Earlier Ruling in Dr. Reddy’s Case
The development follows the Court’s December 2 ruling in another case involving Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and OneSource Specialty Pharma, where Novo Nordisk’s plea for an injunction was rejected.
The Court had found that Dr. Reddy’s raised a credible challenge to the validity of the patent, pointing to issues of prior claiming and obviousness. As a result, Dr. Reddy’s was allowed to continue manufacturing semaglutide for export to non-patented jurisdictions, subject to maintaining proper records.
Parties and Representation
Novo Nordisk was represented by Advocates Hemant Singh and Mamta Rani Jha (Inttl Advocare).
Sun Pharma was represented by Advocate Rajeshwari Hariharan.
Semaglutide at the Center of Global Patent Battles
Semaglutide, marketed internationally as Ozempic and Wegovy has become one of the world’s most sought-after drugs for type-2 diabetes and weight management, leading to intense patent litigation in multiple jurisdictions amid surging demand.
When Sun Pharma sought to rely on the December 2 ruling involving Dr. Reddy’s, Justice Arora emphasized that any relief from that judgment also carries strict compliance obligations, including account disclosures.
