Weight loss drug Wegovy launched in India. How different is it from Lilly's Mounjaro? Check cost, other details
Wegovy in India: Adding to other weight loss drugs available in India such as Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk launched another option Wegovy as a once-a-week injection.
Novo Nordisk said that Wegovy is prescribed to help manage weight and lower the risk of serious heart-related events in adults who have existing cardiovascular disease and are either overweight or obese.
The launch of Wegovy comes months after Eli Lilly launched its weight loss drug 'Mounjaro' in India in March this year. Injection pens for the weight-loss treatment Wegovy, manufactured by Novo Nordisk A/S, on display during a news conference in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. Novo Nordisk said it will sell its blockbuster weight-loss treatment Wegovy in India starting at $50 a week, tailoring the price to match the pocket of consumers in a nation with the world�s third-largest obese population. Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg
Wegovy, which is a prescription medicine, will be available across India to the medical fraternity by June end, mentions a report by Fortune India. It will be sold as an injectable.
As per the company, Wegovy's price will range around ₹ 17,345 to rs 26,050, depending on the dose.
The weight loss drug will be offered as a once-weekly injection through an easy-to-use pen device, available in dose strengths of : 0.25 mg,
0.5 mg,
1 mg,
1.7 mg,
a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg
The Wegovy drug targets key areas of the brain that control appetite and food intake, helping to reduce hunger, increase feelings of fullness, and curb food cravings—leading to weight loss over time.
The drug also enhances insulin sensitivity and offers benefits in lowering the risk of cardiometabolic events and related health issues, said Novo Nordisk.
Wegovy is approved for weight loss, but only if you are above a certain weight. Ozempic (also semaglutide) is used more for diabetes management.
Drug name Founded by Availability Primary Use Active Ingredient Wegovy Novo Nordisk Available in India Indicated for weight loss and reducing cardiovascular events Semaglutide Ozempic Novo Nordisk Not officially launched in India Approved for type 2 diabetes; also lowers cardiovascular risk Semaglutide Mounjaro Eli Lilly Available in India Approved for type 2 diabetes; widely used for weight loss Terzepatide
Responding to a query about potential of Wegovy and sales expectations from it, Novo Nordisk India Managing Director Vikrant Shrotriya said: "We are not chasing any number in India. What we are chasing is how to really create awareness among patients, healthcare professionals, and also work and collaborate with them in terms of bringing access to the product much faster."
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Weight-loss drug Wegovy starts at ₹17,345 in India
Mumbai: Wegovy (semaglutide), the popular weight-loss drug from Danish drug maker Novo Nordisk , is priced between '17,345 and '26,015 across dosages in India. The company announced at its launch that the easy-to-administer once-a-weekly pen-filled injectable will have the advantage of convenient dosing. The drug will be available in five dosing strengths (0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.7 and 2.4 mg) and will be prescribed for long-term chronic weight management and reduction in risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Vikrant Shrotriya, MD, Novo Nordisk India, said obesity is a chronic disease and a national epidemic. "Wegovy is a transformative therapeutic solution with the convenience of a world-class, state-of-the-art pen device," he noted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Нов таблет с Android Pro 14 Murreice Купете сега Undo Ambrish Mithal, chairman and head, endocrinology and diabetes, Max Healthcare , said although the price of Wegovy is not within the reach of the Indian masses, the potential for the drug is huge. Live Events Over time, he said, the cardiovascular benefit of Wegovy 2.4 mg is an important addition to the weight loss benefits. It is clinically proven to reduce cardiac events by 20%, both in people suffering from overweight/obesity with pre-existing heart disease. The drug can be prescribed for patients with BMI over 30 and those with BMI above 27 and pre-existing co-morbidities. Bariatric surgeon Mufazzal Lakdawala told ET that weight-loss drugs are proving to be the game-changers and they have just unlocked the potential for obese patients. He said the new age weight loss drugs could potentially complement bariatric surgery for patients beyond BMI of 45-50 as a weight-loss option. Compared to Wegovy, Mounjaro's 2.5 mg and 5 mg vials, which are also given on a weekly basis, are priced at '14,000 to '17,500 for a month's dose.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Novo Nordisk's Wegovy debuts in India: How it works, who it's for, and how much it costs
Source: iStock In a major development for India's fast-growing anti-obesity drug market, Novo Nordisk on Tuesday officially launched Wegovy, its highly anticipated weight-loss medication, marking a direct challenge to Eli Lilly's already available Mounjaro. Wegovy will be rolled out as a once-weekly injectable, delivered via a FlexTouch pen-like device—a user-friendly, self-administered format that eliminates the need for vials or syringes. The drug is expected to be available in Indian pharmacies by the end of June 2025, according to Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk India. A market ripe for disruption Novo Nordisk is betting big on India, where nearly 254 million people live with generalized obesity and 351 million with abdominal obesity. The Danish pharma giant sees India as a key market for future sales, aiming to capture a large share of the country's ₹576 crore anti-obesity drug market, which has quadrupled from ₹133 crore in 2021, according to PharmaTrac. 'Obesity is not just a personal health concern — it is a chronic disease and a national epidemic that India cannot afford to ignore,' said Shrotriya. 'We are bringing Wegovy with the convenience of a world-class, state-of-the-art pen device, and an India-specific price.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Source: iStock How Wegovy works: Science behind the shot Wegovy contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which mimics a natural hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar, reducing appetite, delaying gastric emptying, and improving satiety. While related drugs like Ozempic are used primarily for type 2 diabetes, Wegovy is specifically approved for chronic weight management in cases of morbid obesity. The FlexTouch device allows patients to dial in their weekly dose, with four needles included in each monthly pack. The drug works on key centers of the brain that regulate hunger and food cravings, promoting weight loss while offering additional metabolic benefits. According to diabetologist Dr. V. Mohan, 'Clinical data on semaglutide demonstrates not just weight loss but also considerable improvement in cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory markers. For Indians, where diabetes and heart disease are on the rise, access to such evidence-based therapy offers holistic benefits.' India-specific pricing for Wegovy: Full dose list With a pricing strategy tailored for the Indian market, Novo Nordisk is offering the same cost for the initial three dosing strengths: Dose Monthly Price (₹) Per Dose (₹) 0.25 mg ₹17,345 ₹4,366 0.5 mg ₹17,345 ₹4,366 1 mg ₹17,345 ₹4,366 1.75 mg ₹24,280 ₹6,070 2.4 mg ₹26,015 ₹6,503 By comparison, Mounjaro, which contains the dual-action compound tirzepatide, is priced more competitively: Source: iStock Mounjaro Dose Monthly Price (₹) 2.5 mg ₹14,000 5 mg ₹17,500 Results comparable to bariatric surgery — but with caveats Wegovy has demonstrated remarkable outcomes in clinical studies, positioning it as a breakthrough in the treatment of obesity and related conditions. Patients using the drug experienced an average weight loss of nearly 15%, with one in three shedding as much as 20% of their body weight. Beyond weight loss, Wegovy also significantly reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. The drug also had notable benefits for liver health and showed improvement in liver fibrosis. However, the benefits of Wegovy are tied closely to continued use. Discontinuation often results in weight regain, and medical experts have raised concerns about potential muscle mass loss over time, underscoring the need for long-term management and monitoring. Wegovy vs. Mounjaro: Key differences Aspect Wegovy (Semaglutide) Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Mechanism GLP-1 receptor agonist Dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist Effect Reduces appetite, delays gastric emptying Enhances insulin secretion, appetite suppression Indication Approved for weight loss Approved for diabetes, used off-label for weight loss Dosing Once a week via Flexpen Once a week via single-dose vials Price ₹17,345–₹26,015 per month ₹14,000–₹17,500 per month One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
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Business Standard
7 hours ago
- Business Standard
Novo Nordisk launches Wegovy in India to rival Eli Lilly's weight-loss drug
Wegovy enters the Indian market as the first GLP-1 drug approved for both weight loss and cardiovascular risk reduction, competing with Eli Lilly's Mounjaro Listen to This Article Novo Nordisk has launched its once-weekly injectable weight-loss drug, Wegovy (semaglutide), in India, intensifying competition in the country's nascent but growing GLP-1 drug market. The launch pits the Danish pharmaceutical company against Eli Lilly, whose GLP-1-based therapy, Mounjaro (tirzepatide), was approved for use in India earlier this year. Both Wegovy and Mounjaro are once-weekly injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists and belong to a new class of drugs gaining global popularity for managing obesity and associated cardiovascular risks. However, they differ in indications, pricing, and clinical positioning. Novo Nordisk claims Wegovy is currently the only GLP-1-based product in India approved for both
