The market for anti-obesity drugs in India is on a steady rise, with approximately 70 million obese individuals in the country, as per data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2022. According to Sheetal Sapale, Vice President, Commercial Operations, Pharmarack, “The growth of the anti-obesity drug market was sluggish until 2021. However, the market experienced a significant upturn with the introduction of Semaglutide by Novo Nordisk in January 2022. Currently estimated at around ₹500 crore, the anti-obesity market has shown remarkable growth, boasting a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32 percent”.
There are four primary molecules in this sector: semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, and orlistat. Novo Nordisk is the pioneer of the first two peptides, while Eli Lilly developed dulaglutide, and Roche introduced orlistat.
As reported by Business Standard, obesity, defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) above thirty, affects one in four Indians, according to medical professionals. Individuals with a BMI between 25 and 30 are classified as overweight but not yet obese. The medical community warns that obesity is associated with severe health complications such as diabetes, heart disease, and strokes, among other conditions.
Dr Sukhvinder Singh Saggu, director of minimal access, GI and bariatric surgery, CK Birla Hospital, Delhi commented, “Obesity is impacting millions, leading to serious health conditions like diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, and even certain cancers. This decline in quality of life demands action. Anti-obesity medication is becoming more common and bariatric surgery is the last resort”.
