Dr Reddy’s Joins Generic Drugmakers Readying Semaglutide Launch

India’s Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. is gearing up to launch a generic version of semaglutide — the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk A/S’s blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy — next year, joining companies including Biocon Ltd. and Sandoz Group AG.

The Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company is readying 87 countries including core markets such as Canada, Brazil, and India as patents for the drug begin to expire globally, Chief Executive Officer Erez Israeli said Wednesday. A key part of the strategy is targeting countries where Novo Nordisk does not hold patents for semaglutide, he said.

Novo Nordisk, which says it controls about 70% ...