Wegovy launched in India: How the breakthrough drug triggers weight loss

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Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk has launched its popular weight-loss drug Wegovy in India, months after its rival Mounjaro's entry into the Indian market. Semaglutide, which is sold under the brand name Wegovy, suppresses appetite and regulates blood sugar, leading to weight loss. But is it better than the US-based pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly's product available in the country since March? read more
After Mounjaro, another weight loss jab has made its entry into Indian markets. Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk on Tuesday (June 24) launched its popular weight-loss drug Wegovy in India.
The drug semaglutide, marketed under the brand name Wegovy, will be available in the form of injections to be administered once a week. Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy have become all the rage.
As another 'weight loss miracle drug' becomes available in India, we take a look at what it is and how it works.
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What is Wegovy?
Wegovy (semaglutide) is a prescription drug to tackle obesity and reduce cardiovascular risks.
Semaglutide suppresses appetite and has long been used to treat diabetes. In recent years, the drug has been prescribed as a weight-loss medication after research revealed it was quite effective in helping people lose weight.
Semaglutide is used in Wegovy and the highly popular type 2 diabetes treatment Ozempic .
How does Wegovy work?
Semaglutide in Wegovy works as an appetite suppressant by imitating a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). It is an intestinal hormone released after eating, and usually makes people feel fuller.
Semaglutide also brings down the rate at which food moves from the stomach to the intestines, making one feel full for longer and reducing blood sugar levels, as per a Healthline article.
Wegovy is prescribed as a weekly injection through pre-filled pens that can be administered by the patient into their upper arm, thigh or stomach.
Wegovy pens are sorted at a packaging line at Novo Nordisk's facility in Hillerod, Denmark, March 8, 2024. File Photo/Reuters
Initially, a low dose is usually suggested, which is gradually hiked until a higher maintenance dose is reached, reported BBC.
Along with exercise and a low-calorie diet, Wegovy could reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems, such as heart attack and stroke. The drug is prescribed to adults with cardiovascular disease who are overweight or obese, as per the Healthline article.
Wegovy in India
Wegovy has made its way to India. The drug is under distribution and will be available in pharmacies by the end of the month, Vikrant Shrotriya, Novo Nordisk's India managing director, told Reuters.
Wegovy will be sold in India in five doses — 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg. The first three doses will cost Rs 4,366 weekly, totalling Rs 17,345 per month.
The 1.7 mg dose will be priced at Rs 24,280 monthly, while the 2.4 mg dose will cost Rs 26,015 per month, the Danish company announced.
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Wegovy vs Mounjaro
Wegovy's launch in India comes just a few months after US-based pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly introduced Mounjaro in the South Asian country.
Chemically known as tirzepatide, Mounjaro , a diabetes and weight-loss drug, was rolled out in March.
It is the first drug in its class to activate both GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) hormones that regulate blood sugar. Wegovy and Ozempic (both brand names for semaglutide) only mimic the hormone GLP-1.
Wegovy is only approved for weight loss. Mounjaro has received official approval for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and weight loss in obese and overweight people.
A trial of both drugs found that Mounjaro is more effective than Wegovy. While they both led to a significant weight loss, Mounjaro caused a 20 per cent weight reduction than Wegovy's 14 per cent after 72 weeks of treatment.
'Mounjaro (tirzepatide) generally outperforms Wegovy (semaglutide) for weight loss, achieving up to about 15-20 body weight reduction (due to its dual GLP-1 and GIP action) compared to Wegovy's 14-17 per cent in trials,' Dr Anoop Misra, a renowned endocrinologist, told News18.
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However, he added, 'Wegovy is [US Food and Drug Administration] FDA-approved for chronic weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction, with broader access for non-diabetic weight loss and adolescent use, while Mounjaro is primarily approved for diabetes (used off-label for weight loss)."
Wegovy's launch is expected to set off competition with Mounjaro in the Indian market.
'India represents a potentially massive structural growth opportunity for GLP-1 drugs, but current penetration remains minimal. Eli Lilly has taken the lead by launching Mounjaro in India—one of the most successful product launches in the Indian market so far," Vishal Manchanda, a pharma analyst at the financial services firm Systematix, was quoted as saying by News18.
As of May, Mounjaro has sold more than 81,570 units in India, worth about Rs 24 crore, according to data from research firm PharmaTrac.
Indian drugmakers are also rushing to develop cheaper versions of the weight-loss drugs to penetrate the market, which is estimated to be around $150 billion by the early 2030s.
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With inputs from agencies