Novo Nordisk launches Wegovy in India, targets obesity treatment market, offers semaglutide-based weekly injection – OXBIG NEWS NETWORK-OxBig News Network

Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk on Tuesday announced the launch of its anti-obesity drug Wegovy in India, targeting chronic weight management and reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with obesity or overweight.The launch marks the company’s push into India’s growing obesity market, with Wegovy being made available across urban and rural markets in all five dosing strengths. The product will be priced between Rs 17,345 and Rs 26,050 per month and delivered via an innovative once-weekly pen injection, according to the company.“Wegovy is a semaglutide-based injectable designed for long-term weight management. We wanted to launch semaglutide for obesity, and this injectable version complements our existing oral semaglutide for type 2 diabetes,” Novo Nordisk India Managing Director Vikrant Shrotriya told news agency PTI.The drug’s active compound, semaglutide, is also used in Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster diabetes drug Ozempic, which is not yet available in India. While Ozempic is indicated for diabetes treatment, Wegovy is specifically meant for managing obesity and reducing cardiovascular risks.According to the company, the drug works by acting on brain centres involved in appetite regulation and food intake, reducing hunger, cravings, and improving satiety. It also improves insulin resistance and reduces cardiometabolic risk.India has the third largest obese and overweight population globally, with over 254 million people affected, making it a key target market. “People have started understanding that obesity needs to be arrested. It is the gateway to many disorders. We feel very strong about launching in India,” Shrotriya said as quoted PTI.Shrotriya added that Wegovy will be one of the most significant launches for Novo Nordisk in India, with efforts underway to create awareness and build partnerships with healthcare providers, hospitals, and governments.“We’re not chasing any number in India. Our goal is to build awareness, collaborate with stakeholders and improve access. Obesity has a 1.59 per cent toll on India’s GDP and that is projected to rise,” Shrotriya said, citing health economics data.Wegovy has been approved for marketing and distribution by Indian regulators and will be imported from Denmark. “We have tailored the price for Indian patients, and it remains consistent across the initial three dosing levels. This reaffirms our commitment to affordability,” he added.Asked about competition following patent expiry next year, Shrotriya said, “We welcome competition. Many more players are required to address the need.”The company said it is open to partnerships with state governments and public health institutions to combat obesity, which it called a national epidemic. The firm also pointed to studies linking obesity with more than 200 diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular conditions.The launch of Wegovy comes just months after Eli Lilly introduced its rival anti-obesity drug Mounjaro in India.Novo Nordisk maintains that Wegovy is a prescription-only drug with the potential to improve life for millions of Indians living with obesity or being overweight. Citing the INDIAB study, it said 351 million people in India suffer from abdominal obesity.