Natco Pharma shares surge over 11% in four sessions, here is why

Shares of the Hyderabad-based drug maker Natco Pharma rose for a fourth straight session on Wednesday, February 25. The stock has jumped as much as 11.45% to hit an intraday high of ₹990 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and in intraday deals, Natco Pharma stock advanced as much as 4.78%. The stock came under buying interest after it got an approval from Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for Semaglutide in India earlier this month.

"Natco Pharma("NATCO") received approval for Semaglutide from CDSCO to manufacture and market generic Semaglutide Injection in India. NATCO will launch the product in the India market in March’26," the Hyderabad-based drug maker said in a regulatory filing earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Eris Lifesciences announced a strategic partnership with Natco Pharma for the launch of Semaglutide in India.

In a regulatory filing, the drug maker said that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Natco Pharma for the commercialisation of Semaglutide.

Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, has emerged globally as a transformative therapy in the management of Type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management driven by robust clinical outcomes in glycemic control and weight reduction.

The global semaglutide market is projected to expand sharply, with IQVIA estimates valuing the market between $34 billion and $47 billion over the 2025–2032 period, driven by rising obesity rates, increasing diabetes prevalence and expanding regulatory approvals across new indications.

Ozempic and Wegovy are popular Semaglutide brands in the world.

Analysts say that with Natco Pharma getting approval for manufacturing Semaglutide in the country, it will launch the product at a much cheaper price compared to Ozempic and Wegovy.

Currently Ozempic is priced at ₹8,800-₹11,175 per month while Wegovy costs around ₹10,850-₹16,400 per month, analysts noted.

Semaglutide helps lower blood sugar by stimulating insulin release, reducing glucagon secretion, and slowing gastric emptying. It also helps in weight management as it reduces appetite and calorie intake, leading to significant and sustained weight loss.

As of 10:48 am, Natco Pharma shares traded 3.11% higher at ₹974, outperforming the NIFTY Smallcap 100 index which was up 0.77%.