Alkem eyes leadership in weight-loss drugs with aggressive generic pricing
₹1,800 per month for a starting dose, which translates to ₹450 per week. While some of its competitors have launched injectable vials at lower prices, Alkem’s generic pen undercuts other pen devices launched on Saturday, which are in the range of ₹3,000-4,000 a month.“Affordable pricing will empower healthcare practitioners to offer the therapy to as many deserving patients as they feel,” Alkem's chief executive officer (CEO) Vikas Gupta told Mint in an interview.
Alkem’s semaglutide pen devices will be marketed under the brand names Semasize, Obesema, and Hepaglide.Alkem has received approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for manufacturing and marketing semaglutide for type-2 diabetes and chronic weight management, after a review of its Phase 3 clinical trials conducted in India.Gupta emphasised that the drug's pricing is only part of the offering. At the core of Alkem’s strategy is owning the product end-to-end.
“The biggest satisfaction is that we have a world-class product, which is similar to the innovator on clinical and chemical aspects,” Gupta said. Alkem has developed the product internally, which gives it tighter control over quality, costs and supply.This is particularly critical for complex drug-device combinations such as semaglutide.
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