Novo Nordisk Debuts Weight Loss Drug Wegovy In India, Starting At Rs 4,300: Country Chief To News18

News18

9 hours ago

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Wegovy, to be in pharmacies by the end of June, has been launched in a pen-injection format with strengths ranging from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk on Tuesday launched its highly anticipated weight-loss injection, Wegovy, in India, aiming to tap into the country's growing demand for anti-obesity drugs.
The once-weekly injectable, made with the active compound semaglutide, is currently under distribution and will be available at pharmacy stores across India by the end of the month, Vikrant Shrotriya, Novo Nordisk's India managing director, told News18 in an exclusive interaction.
'The drug has been sent to distributors today and will be made available very soon. It will be available across pharmacies before the end of this month," he said.
Wegovy has been launched in a pen-injection format with strengths ranging from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg. The initial three doses—0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg—are all priced at Rs 4,366 each, amounting to Rs 17,345 for a month's supply. 'These introductory prices are designed to help patients ease into therapy without the added burden of escalating costs during the early titration phase," Shrotriya said.
However, higher doses such as 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg come at a steeper cost—Rs 24,280 and Rs 26,015 per month, respectively—making them slightly more expensive than competitor Eli Lilly's Mounjaro. 'We believe we have priced it appropriately for India. The delivery device and self-administration option offer convenience, and doctors will be the best judges in prescribing semaglutide," said Shrotriya, who is known for spearheading India's role in global drug development. He oversaw more than 36 clinical trials across over 300 sites, contributing to 8 % of Novo Nordisk's worldwide studies.
'Early mover advantage may not matter'
The company has introduced the full dosage range and delivery device at launch, which Shrotriya described as 'a strategic decision" when asked about the possibility of giving early mover advantage of Mounjaro – the injectable drug which was launched in March and gripped the market with sales of over Rs 24 crore in a short period.
'We wanted to bring a comprehensive offering from the beginning, from the full range of strengths to pen devices. Our experience in the insulin market tells us patients prefer pens over vials and syringes. In the long term, this early mover advantage may not matter, but today, it helps establish a strong base," he said while hinting that Mounjaro is available in a vial format, a relatively difficult one to administer.
The Danish drugmaker commands over 50–60% of India's insulin market with a customer base of approximately 30 to 40 lakh patients and distributes 4 to 5 crore insulin vials annually. Shrotriya led India-specific trials for 'once-weekly insulin" (icodec) across 27 sites with 217 participants, and he has contributed significantly to the continuous development of semaglutide and rare disease therapeutics.
'Rybelsus & Wegovy, both will co-exist'
According to Shrotriya, Wegovy's approval in India follows clinical trials involving 3,500 Indian participants.
'If I include a global experience on Semaglutide, it has now been seen on over 33 million patients worldwide," he said while adding, 'Coupled with our global experience, it gives us a solid background to go forward with the commercial launch in India."
Rybelsus is an oral tablet, whereas Wegovy is an injectable form of the active pharmaceutical ingredient called semaglutide, which is responsible for weight loss and blood glucose management.
While Rybelsus was already available in the Indian market, the entry of Wegovy could mean a major drop in its sales. However, Shrotriya believes that the injectable formulation Wegovy is expected to complement the company's existing oral semaglutide brand.
'Rybelsus is for treating type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy is for treating obesity. But many patients are obese as well as diabetic, and in that case, they might have to switch. But otherwise, Rybelsus has its own strong presence in the type 2 diabetes segment."
'We must understand that in India, there are approximately 10 crore people who have type 2 diabetes and 25 crore people who are obese. Hence, both brands will do justice and coexist."
'Not a quick fix'
Shrotriya clarified that Wegovy is indicated for adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above or those with a BMI of 27 or more with associated conditions like cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, or diabetes.
But he cautioned that 'Wegovy is not a quick fix."
He emphasised that 'it is not just an injection to shed weight, and it needs to be taken under medical supervision, with diet and exercise as key components. Patients must avoid self-medication and consult their doctors for appropriate guidance."
With such drugs, we often see that weight reduction is easy, but weight management is difficult, he said. 'People should never take the drug on their own. Doctors will advise the drug on the right indication and avoid patients who are ineligible. Though that population is very small, there is no margin for guesswork."
About the Author
Himani Chandna
Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particularly pass...Read More
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