Biocon sees GLP-1 weight-loss therapy as a future growth driver

Biocon will continue to deepen its push in the insulin business, even as the biopharmaceutical company will have GLP-1 weight-loss therapy as one of the key focus areas in its future growth strategy, Shreehas Tambe, chief executive of Biocon Biologics, told ET on Friday.

Leveraging decades of experience in insulin, the Bengaluru-based company aims to gain an edge over rivals in the race for copycats of GLP-1 drugs, which are gaining popularity as an effective treatment for glucose control as well as weight management.

Biocon has completed bioequivalence studies in India for semaglutide, a GLP-1 drug, and is progressing to Phase-III trials, which it expects to conclude by the end of calendar year 2026.

“Subsequent regulatory approval is anticipated in CY 2027, after which we will launch the product in India through a partner,” said Tambe, who is also the managing director of the biosimilar and biologics subsidiary of Biocon.

Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster weight-loss drug semaglutide (branded Wegovy) will go off patent in India in March.

On being asked about the disruption in the diabetes drug segment due to the inroads by GLP-1 products, Tambe said: “The disruption (due to GLP-1) is complementary to insulin. We are bullish on both insulin and GLP-1.”

“The originators who brought GLP1s are the insulin companies, and they were able to do that because it is synergistic. Synergy not just in terms of the therapy area but also in terms of operations, touchpoints for prescribers, healthcare givers and customers,” said Tambe, who is also the company’s managing director.

Biocon has both biosimilar insulins and GLP-1 peptides that mimic a naturally occurring gut hormone that controls sugar levels and appetite. “That is what differentiates us from the rest,” he said.

“Having been close to the market will give an advantage because it requires a lot of expertise as the drug is in the form of an injectable, given in a device, is a chronic treatment and hence requires a long-term relationship with patients who need to be trained on those devices,” said Tambe. “All of these we have been able to do with our insulins in the past several years in 80-plus countries that is why we feel confident and we are developing both portfolios that are complementary to each other.”

The company got US Food and Drug Administration approval for insulin aspart, its second interchangeable biosimilar insulin, deepening its presence in the US insulin market.

“The US FDA approval of Kirsty (biosimilar aspart) builds on the strong foundation established with Semglee (biosimilar insulin glargine), enabling us to offer patients the full range of affordable short- and long-acting insulin therapies,” he said. “Insulin aspart we will enter by the end of this fiscal,” he said.

The company got approval for diabetes drug liraglutide in India in June. The drug, used in treating type-2 diabetes, has already launched in the UK and the EU.

“We are working towards expeditiously launching the drug product through our commercialisation partners in India,” said Tambe.

“The biggest concern for the year ahead is external risks to the business, such as potential tariff and geopolitical headwinds. Some of these things are not in our control but that is the biggest concern for the whole industry too,” he said.