The $5.7 billion Indian drug maker is building capacity to tap into the massive opportunity from GLP-1 drugs to open up in the coming years as patents expire in some of the biggest markets.

Biocon | The pharma major said its wholly owned unit Biocon Pharma has received tentative approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) for Sitagliptin tablets in 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg strengths. The drug, indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes, will expand the Indian drugmaker’s portfolio of vertically integrated products, Biocon said in an exchange filing.

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Published Sep 15, 2025 | 1:03 AM GMT-04

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Bengaluru-based Biocon plans to file its applications to launch generic versions of Ozempic in many markets around the world in the current quarter, Managing Director and CEO Siddharth Mittal said in an interview with CNBC-TV18.

"We are expecting that at least by end of 2026 we should be in a position to enter a few of the emerging markets," he said. The patents for GLP-1 drug Semaglutide, sold under brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy, are set to expire in 2031 in both the US and Europe.

Biocon already sells a Liraglutide, an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for GLP-1 drugs, in the UK and Europe. The management expects the US launch in early 2026.

Semaglutide is a drug used to treat Type-II diabetes. Since the approval for Ozempic in 2017, and Wegovy in 2021, the GLP-1 category of drugs have become a popular source of weight loss for many people around the world. Biocon is one of the at least 15 companies that are expected to throw in their hats for a global opportunity estimated at over $160 billion by 2034.

Read more: Delhi High Court flags concerns over misuse of anti-diabetic drug Ozempic for weight loss

The difference between Semaglutide and Liraglutide is one amino acid. This becomes a significant factor for better efficacy as well. Biocon has made the process efficient enough to compete with the Chinese API which is the source for most generic versions of the GLP-1 drugs, according to a report from Motilal Oswal, a Mumbai-based broking firm, whose analysts recently visited Biocon's Bengaluru plant making Liraglutide.

The plant may start yielding revenues in the next 2-3 years, the report added.

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