Natco Pharma shares jumped more than 6% to Rs 947.5 apiece, the highest level seen by the stock since January 8 this year. Eris Lifesciences shares meanwhile gained nearly 4% to Rs 1,402.50 apiece, extending gains for the third consecutive session.
Eris Lifesciences, in an exchange filing announced a strategic partnership with Natco Pharma for the commercialisation of the weight-loss drug in India. “Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, has emerged globally as a transformative therapy in the management of Type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management driven by robust clinical outcomes in glycemic control and weight reduction,” the company said.
Notably, Semaglutide is an active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s weight loss and diabetes drugs Wegovy and Ozempic. Their patent is set to expire in March this year in certain markets, including India. Several Indian companies like Lupin, Cipla, Dr Reddy’s and others are on the way to launch their own generic versions of the product.
With India witnessing a growing diabetic population and rising awareness around obesity management, GLP-1 therapies represent a “high-growth opportunity within the metabolic segment”, it added.
“Eris has built a strong and scalable presence in diabetology over the years, supported by a wide specialist reach and deep engagement with endocrinologists, diabetologists and physicians across India. The addition of semaglutide is expected to further strengthen Eris’ portfolio in advanced diabetes therapies and enhance its participation in next-generation metabolic treatments,” it further said.
The company added that the collaboration builds on both the company’s complementary strengths – “Eris’s robust commercial and diabetes franchise presence, and Natco’s manufacturing and regulatory prowess in complex formulations”.Natco set to launch Semaglutide in India in March 2026:
Natco Pharma received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to produce generic semaglutide for the Indian market, making way for its launch in March 2026.
Eris added that the product will target Type 2 diabetes management aligning with unmet needs in India’s growing metabolic care landscape.
Speaking about the partnership, Eris Lifesciences Chairman and Managing Director Amit Bakshi said, “Semaglutide represents one of the most significant therapeutic advances in metabolic care in recent years. This partnership reflects our continued commitment to strengthening our diabetes franchise with innovative and high-impact therapies. With our strong commercial infrastructure and deep engagement in chronic therapies, we believe Eris is well positioned to drive rapid adoption and enhance patient access in India.”
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