Overview
- India’s drug regulator, which disclosed Tuesday it had inspected 49 online pharmacies, wholesalers, retailers and slimming clinics, said it issued notices for unauthorised sales and misleading marketing and will keep up checks.
- A March 10 advisory bars surrogate or indirect advertising of GLP-1 medicines by manufacturers to prevent consumer push and off‑label promotion.
- Semaglutide’s March 20 patent expiry triggered launches by Indian firms including Dr Reddy’s, Sun Pharma, Glenmark, Torrent, Zydus and Alkem, with monthly costs widely reported around ₹1,200–₹4,200.
- The Health Ministry said these drugs require prescriptions from specialists such as endocrinologists or internal medicine doctors and warned that misuse can cause serious side effects, with penalties for violations including licence cancellation, fines and prosecution.
- UK authorities flagged rising black‑market risks as cheaper generics emerge, with the MHRA reporting 81,000 unlicensed doses seized over three years and warning that illicit supply may grow if buyers seek cut‑price jabs online.