Sun Pharma & Lupin to develop affordable anti-obesity pills

India's prominent drug manufacturers Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and Lupin Ltd are advancing toward making affordable anti-obesity pills as the country faces a rapidly growing obesity epidemic.

According to a report, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has authorized Sun Pharma to conduct a large scale Phase III clinical trial of its semaglutide tablet. Lupin also received clearance to start a bioequivalence study, which is a necessary step to show its generic form is as effective as the branded drug.

Currently, obesity solutions come with a high price tag, including options such as Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, most of which are injectable. These costs have left patients in India without access to effective therapies despite growing unmet obesity needs.

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A study by The Lancet projected almost 450 million adults in India could become overweight and obese by 2050. While experts say generics could bring prices down and allow easier access for millions if developed, they also said there was a risk of abuse, and strict medical oversight is needed, along with enough regulatory systems in place to avoid the dangers of people taking these medications outside of doctor supervision.

Industry observers have flagged the decisions made by Sun Pharma and Lupin as a significant step in expanding India’s obesity care market. Their anti-obesity pills may represent a game-changing opportunity to offer patients affordable, oral alternatives to costly injections, if successful.