Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk is preparing for a major push in India with its blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide), according to a report by The Economic Times. The company is targeting sales of $1 billion (around Rs 8,600 crore) in the next five -seven years.
The Economic Times, citing sources, reports that a pan-India launch is expected soon, backed by a strong go-to-market strategy.
Wegovy targeting No. 1 spot in prescription drug sales
If Novo Nordisk achieves its sales target, Wegovy will become the top-selling prescription drug in India. Currently, MSD India’s anti-cancer drug Keytruda holds the No. 1 spot with annual sales of over Rs 1,600 crore.
Globally, Wegovy recorded $8 billion in sales last year, while Ozempic — the same drug approved for diabetes — earned $17 billion. In India, Novo Nordisk already holds a 62 per cent market share in the Rs 4,943 crore insulin segment.
Wegovy is ready for launch, says India MD
According to The Economic Times, Novo Nordisk India Managing Director Vikrant Shrotriya confirmed that the company is preparing for a full-scale launch.
“This is definitely an opportunity for us to touch millions of lives in India and probably billions across the world over a period of time,” he said.
However, he declined to reveal the expected pricing of Wegovy in India.
The drug will be launched in five strengths using a pen-like device called Flex Touch. “We are launching all five strengths in Flex Touch. A dial allows the user to set the dose, and there are four needles inside the pack for self-administration,” Shrotriya explained.
Novo Nordisk bets on 20-20 strategy
Novo Nordisk is positioning Wegovy as more than just a weight-loss solution. The company says it also offers strong cardiovascular benefits.
“We call it the 20-20 strategy — 20 per cent weight loss and 20 per cent cardiovascular risk reduction,” said Shrotriya.
The drug is also undergoing trials for fatty liver (MASH) and chronic kidney diseases. Preliminary clinical results show that Wegovy reduces fatty liver by 37 per cent and kidney disease risk by 24 per cent.
Wegovy targets India’s growing obesity burden
India is the third most obese country after the US and China. Studies show that 254 million Indians have general obesity, while 351 million suffer from abdominal obesity.
Novo Nordisk believes a significant portion of these people could benefit from Wegovy, particularly due to its added benefits for the heart, liver, and kidneys.
Company responds to vision loss concerns
Reports have linked semaglutide to a rare eye condition called NAION (nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy). Novo Nordisk said that more than 52,000 patients have used the drug in clinical trials, with over 33 million patient-years of post-marketing experience, according to ET.
The company stated, “Based on the totality of evidence, we do not see a causal link between semaglutide and NAION. The benefit-risk profile remains favourable.”
The European Medicines Agency has asked the company to update the labels of its semaglutide brands — Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy — to include NAION as a very rare side effect. Novo Nordisk has agreed to work with the agency to implement the update, ET reported.
Wegovy facing competition from Mounjaro
Novo Nordisk is racing against time, as Eli Lilly’s rival drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) has already entered the Indian market. Within just three months, Mounjaro has generated Rs 24 crore in revenue, according to PharmaTrac data.
The company also faces a looming challenge as the patent for semaglutide in India expires in March 2026. After that, several Indian drugmakers are expected to launch generic versions. Novo Nordisk has already sued Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and OneSource in the Delhi High Court over alleged patent violations.
