India warns of misuse risk from cheap weight-loss jabs

India’s health ministry warned of the risks of unregulated use of weight-loss drugs, as low cost generic versions hit the market, stepping up inspections and enforcement across the pharmaceutical supply chain.



The warning comes after patents on semaglutide – the active ingredient in drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy – expired on March 20 in India, the world’s largest supplier of generic medicines.



Generic versions of the GLP-1 drugs – referring to the hormone that regulates blood glucose levels and appetite – will slash costs and transform the global fight against obesity.



But the Ministry of Health stressed that the drugs can be used only with a doctor’s prescription.