Novo Nordisk has filed a lawsuit in the Delhi High Court against Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, alleging that the semaglutide brand name “Olymviq” is deceptively similar to its blockbuster diabetes drug Ozempic.
Written By: Pharmacally Medical News Desk
Novo Nordisk has initiated legal proceedings against Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories in the Delhi High Court, alleging that the Indian drugmaker’s semaglutide brand name “Olymviq” is deceptively similar to its blockbuster diabetes drug Ozempic, potentially creating confusion among physicians, pharmacists, and patients.
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. Novo Nordisk markets the drug globally as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for chronic weight management, both widely recognized brands in the fast-growing GLP-1 therapy market.
In the context of patient safety similarity in spelling or pronunciation between drug names can contribute to medication errors, particularly when prescriptions are communicated verbally, handwritten, or interpreted quickly during dispensing. These risks are commonly described as “look-alike, sound-alike” (LASA) medication errors, where drug names that appear or sound similar may be confused with one another. Such mix-ups can lead to incorrect dosing, reduced therapeutic effectiveness, or adverse events. Because of these risks, regulators and courts often scrutinize LASA drug names when evaluating pharmaceutical trademarks and product branding.
The dispute comes shortly after semaglutide’s patent expired in India in March 2026, opening the market to generic competition. Novo Nordisk has previously engaged in patent disputes with Indian manufacturers over semaglutide. With patent protection now expired in India, the current case centers on trademark protection of the Ozempic brand name.
During the initial hearing, the Delhi High Court noted the phonetic similarity between the brand names. Dr. Reddy’s undertook to maintain status quo, refraining from supplying or selling the product under the “Olymviq” name until the next hearing.
During the proceedings, the court also suggested that the company could consider marketing its semaglutide product under its existing “Obeda” brand instead. Interim arrangements like these are common in pharmaceutical trademark disputes while the case is under consideration.
The case reflects intensifying competition in the rapidly expanding GLP-1 therapy market, where originator companies increasingly rely on trademark protection to defend established brands after patent expiry. The Delhi High Court will now examine whether the name Olymviq constitutes trademark infringement or passing off under Indian law.
Reference
Delhi High Court asks Dr Reddy’s to halt ‘Olymviq’ sales after Novo Nordisk says it sounds like Ozempic, 25 March 2026, https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/delhi-high-court-asks-dr-reddys-to-halt-olymviq-sales-after-novo-nordisk-says-it-sounds-like-ozempic
Open Delhi High Court Order PDF (Novo Nordisk vs Dr Reddy’s), https://images.assettype.com/barandbench/2025-0530/ijlsk961/Novo_Nordisk_Vs_Dr_Reddy_s.pdf
Novo Nordisk As vs Dr. Reddys Laboratories Limited & Anr on 2 December, 2025, https://indiankanoon.org/doc/39726850/
