According to data reported by the Indian Express, advanced-stage trials for at least seven new drugs in this category have been listed with India's clinical trial registry. Currently, 31 trials are in place, with two of these medications intended for diabetic and obesity patients.
Six out of the seven drugs have been developed by the Danish company Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, a US-based drug manufacturer. These drugs are expected to be marketed in India once trials demonstrate positive results among the population.
Novo Nordisk sells semaglutide, which is a weight loss drug marketed as Ozempic, a low-dose injectable for diabetes, and Wegovy, a high-dose injectable for weight loss. Eli Lilly has introduced Mounjaro for managing diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss.
Clinical trial registry data and recommendations of the drug regulator's subject expert committee show that several phase 3 global trials of the popular compound Semaglutide are underway in India to study its impact on diabetes management, weight loss, obesity-related heart diseases, and chronic kidney disease.
"While Wegovy is about to enter India and has shown about 10% weight loss in participants, India is also participating in trials of more potent compounds. Semaglutide essentially mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1), which stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin. This, in turn, lowers blood sugar, reduces cravings, and slows digestion. All these mechanisms prevent overeating, ultimately leading to weight loss.
"Rebatrutide, an upcoming drug, acts on three targets (GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon), tackling obesity more effectively at 24%," says Dr. V Mohan, chairman of Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai. Determined to stay ahead of the curve, Novo Nordisk recently announced early results for another weight-loss medicine called Amycretin, which, like CagriSema, targets GLP-1 and a hormone called amylin.