Russian pharmaceutical company demands compulsory licensing of Ozempic analogue

Russian insulin manufacturer Geropharm has taken the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk to court to demand a compulsory license, RBC reports , citing the Moscow Arbitration Court database. According to the publication's sources, the drug in question is Ozempic, which was developed to treat diabetes but has gained popularity as an anti-obesity drug.

According to RBC, Geropharm already has a compulsory license to produce an analogue of this drug. The Russian government issued it to Geropharm and Promomed at the end of last year. It is valid for one year.

The drug "Ozempic" was developed by Novo Nordisk in 2012. In 2017, it was approved by the US authorities as a treatment for type 2 diabetes in the US at the end of 2017. In 2018, its use was also approved in Europe. In 2021-2022, Novo Nordisk launched a new variation of its drug on the American and European markets, designed to combat obesity, which was called "Vegovi".

The drug quickly gained popularity as an effective weight loss tool. Many celebrities, including billionaire Elon Musk and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, have admitted to using it. The commercial success of Ozempic and Vegov was so great that in 2023 it led to a strengthening of the Danish krone and a reduction in the key interest rate by the Danish regulator.

In April 2024, it became known that a subcommittee would be created in the Russian government that would issue permits for the "compulsory licensing" of foreign patents. Vladimir Putin had ordered the creation of such a body two months earlier. By "compulsory licensing," the Russian authorities mean a mechanism for restricting intellectual rights for the sake of public interest and national security.

To get the main news faster, subscribe to our telegram and twitter .