Cursor: Purchases of obesity treatment drugs in Russia have increased almost 20-fold in four years.

Semaglutide led the growth: in 2021, its purchases amounted to 79 million rubles, in 2024, they reached 1.7 billion rubles, and in the first eight months of 2025, they reached 1.25 billion rubles. By comparison, orlistat, which has been on the market for over two decades, maintained its purchase volume at around 15 million rubles, while liraglutide accounted for approximately 37 million rubles. In 2024, semaglutide and liraglutide accounted for almost 99% of all tenders in the group.

Analysts emphasize that following the withdrawal of the original drug Ozempic (semaglutide) from the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk at the end of 2022, there was no shortage: purchases were quickly compensated by domestic generics. In 2025, new brands joined the segment: Semuglin from Pharmasyntez, Velgiya and Tirzetta from Promomed, and Semavic Next from Geropharm. As a result, the share of Russian manufacturers reached 98% of the market by value.

In terms of clinical efficacy, innovative molecules deliver fundamentally different results compared to traditional treatments. Orlistat allows for weight loss of approximately 5-6 kg in six months with dietary intervention, while semaglutide reduces body weight by 10-15% over a year while simultaneously improving metabolic parameters. The new molecule tirzepatide demonstrates a different effect: weight loss of 15-21% over a year and a half of use.

Based on the results of the first eight months of 2025, four new drugs entered the top ten trade names with the largest purchase volumes. Semanavik (Geropharm) led the way with purchases of 339.5 million rubles, followed by Insudive (PSK Pharma) at 307.2 million rubles, and Quincenta (Promomed) at 304.7 million rubles. Also among the bestsellers were Semuglin (Pharmasyntez) and Semanavik Next (Geropharm).

Thus, the public procurement market for obesity treatment drugs is undergoing active transformation. Innovative molecules are replacing traditional solutions, and domestic manufacturers are becoming the primary beneficiaries. According to Cursor, Russian analogues of semaglutide and new developments by local companies will determine the segment's dynamics in the coming years.

Further confirmation of interest in new therapies was the approval granted to R-Pharm in 2025 to conduct Phase I clinical trials of tirzepatide for the treatment of diabetes. The drug, known internationally as Mounjaro and used in the US since 2022, is not registered in Russia. According to the Eurasian Patent Organization, Eli Lilly's patent on this molecule was terminated in Russia in November 2024, opening the door to local development and production.

These opportunities were formalized in early 2025: the Russian Ministry of Health issued a registration certificate to Promomed for Tirzetta (tirzepatide), valid until January 2030. The drug is planned to be released as a subcutaneous solution in various dosages (from 2.5 to 15 mg), and production will be handled by the Biokhimik and Medsintez factories.