CDSCO cracks down on irregularities in sales of weight-loss drugs as demand for Semaglutide surges

The Article from The Telegraph India highlights the actions taken by Indian Drug Regulator the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), on illegal sale and misuse of weight-loss drugs like Semaglutide. 

Semaglutide is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and manage obesity by improving blood sugar control, reducing cardiovascular risk (stroke, heart attack), and inducing weight loss.

Issues of unauthorized sales by entities without proper licences and improper prescription were noted from 49 different entities. 

Now, the patent of the concerned drug, Semaglutide, expired on March 20, 2026, leading to launch of low-cost generic versions. Doctors have flagged concerns due to the fact that these are not normal supplements, but these are used for serious medical treatments. Thus, they can be prescribed only by some specialists, else improper intake may lead to serious health concerns. 

While the actions taken by CDSCO are indeed laudable, a more impactful communication is needed - ensuring that the general public is aware of the issues with taking the drugs for weight loss purposes without having diabetes. We have seen abuse of semaglutide across the world, where people not suffering from Type-II Diabetes are taking the medicine for weight loss purposes. Cheaper versions of the drug are also flooding the market since the patent on semaglutide expired and indicates the potential abuse of the medicine. Maybe the CDSCO can also consider shifting the category of the drug from Schedule H to Schedule X, making it harder for retailers to sell without proper prescription and maintenance of records. 

In another recent case, CDSCO flagged select batches of four drugs as spurious and listed 194 drugs and formulations as not of standard quality (NSQ) in its routine surveillance for February 2026. 

While the Regulator's actions are appreciated, they should also take steps to ensure that the names of medicines are disclosed, so that the general public does not buy them or purchase them after proper consideration. This will reduce the chances of any person being negatively affected by the medication, and in extreme circumstances, prevent tragedies as we have seen before when children died in Africa from consuming cough syrup produced by Indian pharma companies. Effective communication from the Regulator is critical for warning the general public.