The Delhi High Court today, March 25 directed Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories to immediately halt further sales and market expansion of its semaglutide-based diabetes drug under the brand name Olymviq
Justice Jyoti Singh issued the oral interim direction during a hearing in the trademark infringement and passing-off suit filed by Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk. The court found a prima facie case of phonetic similarity between “Olymviq” and Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster drug *Ozempic*, observing, “According to me, there is a phonetic similarity…and in a pharma, it’s a threshold which I would not like to cross.”
Novo Nordisk argued that pharmaceutical trademarks demand a heightened standard to prevent any possibility of confusion, especially among doctors and pharmacists dealing with illegible prescriptions or telephonic orders. The company contended that the test of “imperfect recollection” applies, and even minor structural or phonetic overlaps could mislead patients. It warned that allowing continued sales would flood the market, create third-party equities, and render any later injunction ineffective.
The bench noted that consumers primarily rely on the product name, and differences in packaging or additional branding (such as Dr. Reddy’s house mark) may not sufficiently mitigate the risk. The court also flagged inconsistencies: Dr. Reddy’s trademark application for Olymviq described it as “proposed to be used,” yet the company claimed prior commercial rollout. Public materials and media reports primarily referred to *Obeda*, the brand under which Dr. Reddy’s officially launched its generic semaglutide injection on March 21, 2026 just one day after Novo Nordisk’s key Indian patent on the active ingredient expired.
Justice Singh suggested that Dr. Reddy’s adopt the alternative mark Obeda, which is already associated with the company, stating, “I would rather that you go up this path…It’s a little change of a name here and there.” The court paused any further rollout of the product under the Olymviq mark for the time being.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on March 27, 2026. The judge cautioned that if not persuaded on the next date, a formal interim injunction may be passed.
This trademark dispute arises immediately after the patent expiry of semaglutide on March 20, 2026, which opened the door for Indian generics in the booming GLP-1 receptor agonist segment for type 2 diabetes and obesity management.
Shares of Dr Reddy’s ended 3.2% or Rs 41.1 higher at Rs 1,300 on the NSE today.
(With inputs from Bar & Bench)