Novo Nordisk India has partnered with Emcure Pharmaceuticals to commercialize Poviztra, a second brand of blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, the Danish drugmaker said on November 11, as it seeks to deepen market reach across India.
The deal makes Emcure the first Indian firm with exclusive rights to distribute and market semaglutide injection 2.4 mg under the Poviztra brand, targeting those with obesity and related-cardiovascular risks. The move comes just five months after Wegovy debuted in India, and signals Novo Nordisk’s intent to scale access beyond metro cities and premium clinics.
“Obesity is a serious chronic disease affecting millions across India,” said Jay Thyagarajan, Senior Vice President for APAC at Novo Nordisk. “This partnership combines our innovation in GLP-1 therapies with Emcure’s distribution muscle to reach more patients.”
India is home to over 600 million people living with generalized or abdominal obesity, according to recent studies. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy has shown dramatic results in clinical trials, with one in three patients losing more than 20 percent of their body weight.
The drug, delivered via a once-weekly injection pen, is approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise for chronic weight management, also reducing risk of major cardiovascular events in patients with obesity and heart disease.
Emcure CEO Satish Mehta said the company’s deep reach across India’s diverse geographies will help bring the molecule to “patients who need it the most.” The Pune-based firm ranks 13th in domestic pharma sales and operates in over 70 countries.
The partnership reflects a broader trend of global pharma firms teaming up with Indian players to navigate complex distribution networks and regulatory landscapes. For Novo Nordisk, which has operated in India since 1994, the tie-up is part of a strategy to expand access to its portfolio of chronic disease treatments.
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