Novo Nordisk will lose patent protection for its blockbuster drug Ozempic in several major markets from Saturday.
The patent expiry opens the door for other manufacturers to produce cheaper generic versions of the drug, according to The New York Times.
More people able to access the drug
This is expected to make the treatment more accessible to people who previously could not afford it.
Generic versions are expected to enter the market in countries including China and India, that together account for around 40 percent of the world’s population.
According to the World Obesity Atlas, the two countries are home to more than 800 million adults who are overweight or obese, while more than 360 million adults are living with diabetes, according to The Lancet.
High expectations for generics
Patients and manufacturers are already anticipating the shift.
“I don’t think there has ever been so much excitement for any class of drug going off patent,” said Siddharth Mittal, chief executive of Biocon, an Indian manufacturer planning to introduce generics in several markets, as cited by The New York Times.
Generic versions are expected to significantly reduce prices as more companies enter the market, potentially expanding access to treatment across Asia.
