GLP-1 drug patent applications surge amid semaglutide patent expiry

The global pharmaceutical landscape is shifting as patent applications for GLP-1 drugs have surged by 146% over the last five years. This increase is driven by companies seeking to extend product lifecycles through secondary patents on oral formulations, delivery devices like injector pens, and new chemical synthesis processes.

In India, the upcoming March 2026 patent expiry for semaglutide has already triggered a massive rollout of generic brands from companies including Sun, Dr. Reddy’s, Zydus, and Alkem. While the rapid introduction of over fifty brands demonstrates manufacturing agility, it has also highlighted critical dependencies on imported peptide active ingredients and European-made auto-injector devices.

To move beyond simple generics, the Indian pharmaceutical sector faces a strategic need to invest in complex molecules. Future growth is expected to center on oral GLP-1s, oligonucleotides, antibody-drug conjugates, and radiopharmaceuticals. Additionally, manufacturers are increasingly filing method-of-use patents to target secondary clinical benefits of GLP-1s, such as treatments for liver disease, hypertension, and kidney disease.