[SpicyIP Tidbit] A Heavy Dose of Litigation: Novo Nordisk sees Litigation from Natco over Semaglutide

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Tejaswini Kaushal

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Aug 27, 2025, 5:09:39 AMAug 27

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Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide) continues to trigger a complex litigation landscape in India. The Danish innovator already has two civil suits pending against Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) and OneSource Specialty Pharma Ltd (OSSPL). The first, C.O.(COMM.IPD-PAT) 9/2025, seeks revocation of a patent and has so far seen only four hearings with routine interim orders. The second, CS(COMM) 565/2025, was instituted in anticipation of Novo’s Indian launch and is more high-stakes: on 29 May 2025, the Single Bench of the Delhi High Court passed an interim order restraining DRL and OSSPL from marketing semaglutide in the domestic market. I had covered the same here. Since then, seven further hearings have taken place, though the case remains far from resolution.

A new chapter has now opened with Hyderabad-based Natco Pharma’s entry into the dispute. On 20 August 2025, Natco instituted six separate civil suits (CS(COMM) 857 (pdf), 858 (pdf), 863 (pdf), 864 (pdf), 865 (pdf), and 866 (pdf) of 2025) before the Delhi High Court, arrayed against Novo Nordisk. Through these actions, Natco seeks declarations of non-infringement with respect to Novo’s process and device patents surrounding semaglutide products under Section 105 of the Patents Act, 1970. The first hearing on these petitions has already been held, with the next dates listed for 10 October 2025. Once again, the initial orders issued were routine, offering little substantive guidance. The orders do see the DHC instructing the involved parties to participate in mediation before the litigation progresses, aiming to resolve the dispute amicably through settlement discussions rather than proceeding immediately to complex patent infringement or non-infringement issues.

What makes Natco’s litigation strategy particularly intriguing is its timing. The primary compound patent is set to expire in about seven months. Against that backdrop, the decision to proliferate non-infringement suits at this juncture is a curious one.. It may possibly represent a pre-emptive clearing of the field, an attempt to differentiate itself from DRL’s litigation posture, or even a signalling move in settlement negotiations. Do readers have other thoughts on this?

DRL’s revocation petition and Natco’s latest litigation portray one thing for sure: Indian generics are not conceding the market without a fight. This can put significant pressure on Novo Nordisk.

Image 1: Cases pending against Novo Nordisk currently (as on 26 August 2025)

For now, the Delhi High Court docket reflects parallel and partially overlapping battles: one strand led by Novo against DRL and OSSPL, and another initiated by Natco against Novo (see Image 1). Both remain at early or interim stages, with substantive questions of infringement and validity still to be addressed. The outcome of these proceedings will not only determine generic entry timelines for semaglutide but also shed light on the evolving litigation strategies of Indian generics in confronting blockbuster biologics. If readers understand or know more details here than I’ve managed to put together, please share in the comments below!