Headquartered in Bangalore, Biocon Ltd, a leading Indian pharmaceutical company, is positioning itself in the weight loss drug market as patents for some blockbuster obesity medications are set to expire.
The company has secured approval from the UK’s regulatory authority for the first generic version of liraglutide, an injectable drug used for weight management. Liraglutide, sold under the brand name Saxenda by Novo Nordisk, is among the earliest anti-obesity drugs to lose patent protection, with its patent expiring in November.
Siddharth Mittal, Biocon’s Chief Executive Officer, expressed the company’s determination to maintain its lead in this emerging market. “My leadership team and organization are ensuring that we do not give up the lead position we have now,” Mittal stated in an interview with Bloomberg. He further revealed that Biocon has another 15 peptide formulations under development, with one or two drugs expected to seek regulatory approval this year.
In addition to securing approval in the UK, Biocon has also filed applications with regulators in the U.S. and Europe for its generic version of liraglutide. However, the company has not yet filed for approval in India.
The expiration of patents on popular weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy in the coming years is expected to open the floodgates for generic alternatives to enter the market. This presents a significant opportunity for companies like Biocon to capitalize on the growing demand for affordable obesity treatments.
In the UK, Biocon plans to wait for the publicly funded National Health Service to issue a tender before launching its liraglutide injectable. The company filed its UK application through its European partner, Zentiva SA.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
