Hyderabad: Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Wednesday announced the launch of its oral semaglutide biosimilar, Obeda, for adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus in India. This move comes shortly after the company introduced its injectable semaglutide in Canada, strengthening its foothold in the rapidly expanding GLP-1 therapy segment.
Product Details and Pricing
Obeda, a once-daily oral treatment, will be available as tablets in three strengths: 3 mg, 7 mg, and 14 mg. The tablets are priced at Rs 99, Rs 135, and Rs 225 per tablet, respectively. The drugmaker emphasized that the product is developed and formulated in-house, reflecting its commitment to innovation and affordability.
Regulatory Approval and Clinical Trial
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) approved Obeda after reviewing a Phase III clinical study conducted in India. The trial involved 288 participants with Type 2 diabetes and demonstrated non-inferior efficacy and a safety profile comparable to the innovator oral drug. Similar outcomes were observed for fasting and postprandial plasma glucose, weight loss, and overall glycaemic control. Notably, a significant proportion of patients achieved HbA1c levels below 7% at 12 and 24 weeks.
Strategic Expansion in Diabetes Care
The launch of oral semaglutide follows Dr Reddy's introduction of generic semaglutide injections in India in late March and more recently in Canada. This strengthens the company's broader diabetes and metabolic disease portfolio. India remains one of the world's largest diabetes markets, with over 101 million adults living with diabetes and nearly 136 million prediabetic, according to an ICMR INDIAB study. Additionally, about 40% of adults have abdominal obesity, increasing the risk of progression to Type 2 diabetes.
Company Statement
M V Ramana, CEO of Global Generics at Dr Reddy's Labs, stated: "The launch of Obeda marks a key step in our journey to broaden access to diabetes care. As we continue to build a comprehensive GLP-1 portfolio, we are focused on delivering innovation, high quality, and affordability, translating into meaningful treatment options and better long-term outcomes for people living with chronic metabolic diseases in India and beyond."
This launch reinforces Dr Reddy's commitment to addressing the growing diabetes burden in India and expanding access to advanced therapeutic options.
