GLP-1 'generic' vs branded pens in India: a safety guide

You may have seen ads for 'generic semaglutide' at a fraction of the price of the branded GLP-1 pens. It looks like the same medicine for less money. This guide gives you the honest picture, and it matters, because these are injectable medicines you put into your body. As of 2026, the original GLP-1 receptor agonists, semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) and liraglutide (Saxenda), are still under patent protection globally. There are no true generic versions of these molecules approved in the standard sense yet. So what is the cheap 'semaglutide' sold online or through informal channels? It is usually compounded, meaning made by a pharmacy, or, worse, falsified, meaning counterfeit. The World Health Organization has issued global warnings about falsified semaglutide. This guide is for an Indian reader trying to make a safe choice. Please talk to your doctor before any decision about these medicines.