The Delhi HC ruling gave relief to Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories in the ongoing Novo Nordisk patent dispute over the diabetes drug semaglutide. The court allowed Dr. Reddy’s semaglutide export to countries where the drug does not have patent protection.
A division bench of Justices C. Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla confirmed an earlier order of the High Court. The bench said the court found no reason to change the previous decision.
The earlier order allowed Dr. Reddy’s to manufacture semaglutide in India and export the drug to non patent markets. The latest Delhi HC ruling supports that decision.
The judgment arrived just days before the semaglutide patent expiry in India on March 20. After this date, many generic companies may launch the drug in the Indian market.
Novo Nordisk had challenged a December 2025 order given by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora. The company tried to stop Dr. Reddy’s from producing and exporting semaglutide.
Novo Nordisk argued that semaglutide has a unique chemical structure and special long acting properties. The company said earlier patents covered only a broad class of GLP 1 medicines and did not clearly mention semaglutide.
However, the court did not agree at this stage. The division bench said earlier scientific teachings may make semaglutide appear obvious to experts. Because of this view, the court accepted a credible challenge to the patent under Section 64 of the Indian Patent Act.
Section 64 allows patent cancellation if the invention lacks novelty or does not involve a new step. Based on this reasoning, the court refused to block Dr. Reddy’s semaglutide export.
The legal fight started earlier in 2025. Dr. Reddy’s challenged Novo Nordisk’s secondary patent on semaglutide in the Delhi High Court. The company claimed that the patent tried to extend monopoly control over the drug.
Soon after the challenge, Novo Nordisk filed a patent infringement case against Dr. Reddy’s. That case still continues in the High Court and awaits further hearings.
The Delhi HC ruling also highlights the importance of India pharma exports. Semaglutide remains one of the most demanded drugs for diabetes and weight loss treatment worldwide.
Global demand for GLP 1 medicines continues to grow. According to industry data, the GLP 1 drug market in India reached about Rs. 1,446 crore by February 2026.
Experts expect more than 50 generic versions of semaglutide after the semaglutide patent expiry in India. Indian companies are preparing to enter this market quickly.
Novo Nordisk still holds the option to appeal against the Delhi HC ruling in the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the main lawsuit in the High Court will continue.
For now, the decision gives strong support to Dr. Reddy’s semaglutide export plan and strengthens the role of India in the global generic drug supply.
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