Mumbai: Alkem Laboratories Ltd. announced the launch of semaglutide injection in India under the brand names “Semasize”, Obesema” and “Hepaglide” on Saturday. Semaglutide is administered as a subcutaneous injection, once weekly.
The company has launched its semaglutide pre-filled disposable injection pen at a price starting INR 1,800 for a month’s dosage, which translates into a weekly cost of INR 450. Through an affordable pricing, Alkem aims to lower barriers to initiation and expand access to this therapy in India.
Alkem has received approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for manufacturing and marketing semaglutide for type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic weight management as an adjunct to diet and exercise, subsequent to a review of its Phase 3 clinical trials conducted in India. Semaglutide is a prescription product and should be taken under appropriate medical supervision.
Apart from disposable pen, Alkem is offering reusable injection pen for semaglutide administration for higher maintenance doses. The reusable pen enables patients to replace only the medication cartridge rather than purchasing a new disposable pen each time, thereby reducing cost and helping better patient adherence to treatment.
Dr. Vikas Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, Alkem said, “We believe therapeutic advancements must translate into real-world access to create a lasting impact. With the launch of our indigenously-developed semaglutide, we are bringing a high quality and affordable option to market, empowering healthcare practitioners to offer this therapy to more deserving patients. Through our strong distribution network and patient friendly devices, we aim to make the product accessible to a larger section of the population and contribute to better overall healthcare outcomes.”
