Natco Pharma Challenges Novo Nordisk's Wegovy Patent, Reaches Delhi High Court

The petition has been filed under Section 64 of the Patents Act, 1970, read with the provisions of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015 and the Delhi High Court Intellectual Property Rights Division Rules, 2022. Natco Pharma has approached the High Court seeking revocation of Indian Patent No. 262697, which is owned by Novo Nordisk A/S. The case has been registered as C.O.(COMM.IPD-PAT) 1/2026 before the Intellectual Property Division of the Delhi High Court.

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist used to improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus, treat obesity, and reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in selected adults.

Semaglutide was developed by Novo Nordisk and approved by the FDA for subcutaneous injection in December 2017. The tablet formulation was approved for oral administration in September 2019. Semaglutide works by binding to and activating the GLP-1 receptor, thereby stimulating insulin secretion and reducing blood glucose.

GLP-1 is a physiological hormone that promotes glycemic control via several different mechanisms, including insulin secretion, slowing gastric emptying, and reducing postprandial glucagon secretion. The homeostasis of glucose is dependent on hormones such as insulin and amylin, which are secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas. Semaglutide is 94% similar to human GLP-1. Analogs of this hormone such as semaglutide stimulate the synthesis of insulin by stimulating pancreatic islet cells and reducing glucagon secretion. They directly bind with selectivity to the GLP-1 receptor, causing various beneficial downstream effects that reduce blood glucose in a glucose-dependent fashion.

Natco Pharma Ltd, represented by Senior Advocate J. Sai Deepak, filed the petition seeking revocation of the patent. While the detailed grounds of challenge are yet to be examined by the Court, the filing invokes the statutory remedy available under Section 64 of the Patents Act, which permits any “person interested” to seek revocation of a granted patent. The petitioner also sought permission to place additional documents on record, which was allowed by the Court subject to statutory compliance.

Novo Nordisk A/S and other respondents, represented by counsel led by Hemant Singh, accepted notice at the outset. The Union of India, arrayed as a respondent through the Central Government Standing Counsel, also accepted notice. The respondents have been granted time to file their replies to the revocation petition within six weeks, with liberty to the petitioner to file rejoinders thereafter.

The Court confined itself at this stage to procedural directions. It allowed Natco’s application for filing additional documents, while clarifying that any further documents must strictly comply with the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. The Outlook reports that the Court found it appropriate to issue notice in the main revocation petition and set timelines for pleadings, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the patent challenge.

To view the original order, click on the link below:

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