Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has announced the launch of its semaglutide injection under the brand names Noveltreat and Sematrinity in India, in all strengths. Noveltreat is indicated for chronic weight management in adults as an adjunct to a reduced calorie diet & increased physical activity and is available in five dose strengths – 0.25 mg/0.5 mL, 0.5 mg/0.5 mL, 1 mg/0.5 mL, 1.7 mg/0.75 mL, and 2.4 mg/0.75 mL.
Sematrinity is indicated for treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet & exercise and is available in two dose strengths – 2 mg/1.5 mL and 4 mg/3 mL. Priced significantly lower than the innovator brand, weekly therapy costs, from initiation to the highest dose, range from approximately ₹900 to ₹2,000 for Noveltreat and ₹750 to ₹1,300 for Sematrinity, supporting greater affordability.
Commenting on the launch, Kirti Ganorkar, managing director, Sun Pharma, said, “With the launch of Noveltreat and Sematrinity, our endeavour is to provide a high-quality, affordable therapy to a wider patient community in India. We are offering a comprehensive range, backed by our decades of expertise in manufacturing complex medicines. To further support patients, we are also introducing a holistic patient support program intended to guide them throughout their treatment journey.”
Noveltreat’s prefilled pen uses a concealed needle to help ease injection fear and improve both handling safety and dosing accuracy. Sematrinity comes in a multi-dose pen format that offers flexible dosing, with a smooth dialer that enables accurate dose delivery. The easy-to-use, pre-filled pens, developed by leading global pharmaceutical device suppliers, are manufactured in Europe.
GLP-1 agonists are a class of medications utilized to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. These therapies, including semaglutide, are considered highly effective treatment options for people with T2DM and obesity, while reducing cardiovascular and renal morbidity and mortality.
Obesity and diabetes
As per National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), almost one in four Indians between the age group 15-49 is now overweight or obese. Obesity is associated with several comorbidities, including, but not limited to, metabolic and cardiovascular consequences, and increased risk of cancer, morbidity, and mortality. There is an urgent need to mandate timely screening, timely treatment with effective therapies and lifestyle interventions, and maintaining weight loss in these patients to ensure enhanced treatment outcomes.
As per the ICMR INDIAB 17 study published in 2023, an estimated 101.3 million people had diabetes in India. Diabetic patients are at risk of complications such as blindness, kidney failure, amputations, and heart attacks. About 64% of patients in India do not reach their HbA1c targets. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive approach to managing diabetes, including newer and more efficacious therapies.
