Abbott to distribute Novo Nordisk's semaglutide second brand Extensior in India

Abbott

• Abbott partners with Novo Nordisk to launch Extensior in India
• Extensior aims to expand access to semaglutide for diabetes care
• Extensior expected to be cheaper than Ozempic in India

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Abbott on Friday said it has partnered with Novo Nordisk India to launch Extensior, a second brand of semaglutide, to expand access to the GLP‑1 therapy in India.

The companies announced that Abbott will commercialise the drug in India while Novo Nordisk supplies the molecule, which is globally known as Ozempic.

Semaglutide is approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise for adults with Type 2 diabetes and is recognised for lowering HbA1c, supporting weight loss and reducing cardiovascular and kidney risks. The drug has demonstrated its safety and efficacy through more than 44 clinical trials and over 10 real‑world studies and has accumulated over 49 million patient‑years of use globally across semaglutide products.

Extensior will be available in the FlexTouch pen device in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg dose strengths.

Abbott has not yet disclosed the price of Extensior in India. But sources told Extensior would be cheaper than Ozempic's price, keeping in view the entry of lower-priced generics as the patent of semaglutide will expire in March 2026.

The current monthly cost of semaglutide (Ozempic) in India is Rs10,000–Rs.12,000 per month.

Abbott’s Managing Director Kartik Rajendran said the company is building an end‑to‑end diabetes ecosystem—from diagnostics and nutrition to continuous glucose monitoring—making the semaglutide brand a logical addition.

Novo Nordisk’s India chief Vikrant Shrotriya noted the partnership increases availability of a molecule that has “changed the way Type 2 diabetes is managed,” highlighting the sophistication of the recombinant‑DNA manufacturing behind.

The timing is crucial. India’s diabetes prevalence is expected to surge to 150 million by 2050, straining an already overburdened healthcare system. The country also spends more than $9.8 billion annually on diabetes‑related care, a figure projected to grow sharply as complications rise. Meanwhile, 43 percent of people with diabetes remain undiagnosed, limiting opportunities for timely intervention.

According to national data, 101 million Indians are currently living with diabetes and another 136 million are classified as pre‑diabetic. One in seven adults with Type 2 diabetes globally is Indian. The country also has the second‑highest diabetes prevalence worldwide and the third‑highest obesity prevalence.

Disease management remains a major challenge. Seventy‑seven percent of people with diabetes in India are not under glycaemic control, significantly increasing the risk of complications, including cardiovascular events and premature mortality. Even one year of poor glycaemic control raises the risk of myocardial infarction by 67 percent, heart failure by 64% and stroke by 51 percent.

India’s obesity crisis is closely linked to the diabetes surge. Around 254 million Indians live with generalised obesity, and overweight and obesity rates have doubled in the last 15 years. About 70% of people with diabetes also have overweight or obesity, raising mortality risk up to sevenfold.