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From the article in @IndianExpress
by Ankita Upadhay-
#GLP1 #semaglutide
"Doctors are also observing how rapidly expanding access to these drugs, with generics flooding the market, is reshaping both demand and prescribing patterns.
Dr Ambrish Mithal, Group Chairman – Endocrinology & Diabetology at Max Healthcare, says his practice had already been using GLP-1 drugs even before their wider rollout, so the introduction of generics did not significantly change prescription patterns in his own clinic. But he notes that the broader availability of these drugs has significantly expanded access.
According to him, cheaper generic versions, especially of Semaglutide, have made these therapies affordable for many more patients who previously could not access them due to cost, thereby widening their reach across lower-income groups.
This shift, he says, has also led to more doctors prescribing these medications and more patients actively requesting them, often asking specifically for less expensive options.
While the market now has a large number of generic formulations, with dozens of companies manufacturing Semaglutide, he says his department has chosen to rely on a limited set of established, trusted pharmaceutical companies. Established firms, he says, inspire greater confidence because of their long-standing track record and global exports, which reduces concerns around quality.
At the same time, he cautions that it is too early to draw firm conclusions about differences in efficacy or safety between branded drugs and generics. Any perceived differences, he says, are often based on anecdotal impressions rather than robust comparative data. Claims that one version works better than another, he adds, should be treated cautiously unless backed by proper scientific analysis.
He also clarifies that the arrival of generics has not altered clinical guidelines. Doctors, he stresses, must continue to follow established protocol for patient selection, dosing, and monitoring. The primary impact of generics, in his view, is improved affordability and accessibility, not a change in how these drugs should be used.
Dr Mithal, too, echoes concerns about misuse. These medications should be used strictly under medical supervision and not casually for minor or purely cosmetic weight loss goals, he stresses"
indianexpress.com/article/cities…
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