Novo Nordisk to launch blockbuster obesity drug Wegovy in India soon

Wegovy

Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk A/S is preparing to launch its blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy in India within the next several weeks, sources told Moneycontrol.  The move thrusts the company into a burgeoning market just as its window of patent exclusivity is narrowing.

"We are introducing Wegovy (injectable Semaglutide 2.4 mg) this year, which offers full therapeutic strengths of semaglutide for comprehensive weight management and obesity treatment," the company told Moneycontrol in an email statement.

"As a healthcare company, we acknowledge our responsibility towards our patients by ensuring treatment availability, access and awareness. India faces a growing need for effective obesity treatments, and we are committed to addressing this urgent health challenge by expanding access to transformative therapies," the statement added.

Wegovy (semaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which is specifically approved for chronic weight management in adults and adolescents with obesity or who are overweight and have at least one weight-related health condition. Wegovy typically contains a higher dose of semaglutide than its counterpart Ozempic, which is indicated for diabetes. The drug works by reducing appetite and slowing down the movement of food through your body.

The launch of Wegovy comes after a delay caused by overwhelming global demand that strained Novo's manufacturing capacity.

The push into India comes as Novo Nordisk faces a ticking clock. The patent for semaglutide—the active ingredient in Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus (oral version of semaglutide available in India) —is set to expire in the country in March 2026, a situation expected to open the floodgates to generic competition. An analyst noted this gives semaglutide a "short window of patent protection" compared to its chief rival, Eli Lilly & Co's Mounjaro, which has a longer patent life.

Competition with Mounjaro

This strategic move places Novo directly in competition with Eli Lilly, which launched its own highly popular obesity drug, Mounjaro, in India this past March. Both pharmaceutical giants are deploying disease awareness campaigns to tap into a significant market, as Indian regulations prohibit direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs. Even before an official launch, a black market for sought-after medicines has emerged, with some affluent urbanites smuggling the drugs into the country.

In 2024, Novo Nordisk's semaglutide generated DKK 201.84 billion (approximately $29.3 billion). This revenue represented 70% of Novo Nordisk's overall sales for the year.

Easing supply

According to sources, Novo's original plan to launch in India last year was derailed by unprecedented demand and significant manufacturing hurdles globally. The company has since invested billions to expand its production capacity, including the integration of three newly acquired manufacturing sites.

During its first-quarter earnings call, the company signalled that supply constraints were easing. The USFDA removed semaglutide from its drug shortage list in February, and executives noted that "greater supply availability" was enabling the rollout of Wegovy into many more markets.

The potential market in India is substantial. According to the National Family Health Survey for 2019-21, 24 percent of women and 23 percent of men in the country are overweight or obese. The GLP-1 agonist drugs, which mimic a natural hormone to regulate appetite and blood sugar, have been hailed as revolutionary, leading to an average weight loss of 10-15 percent of body weight. While the drugs have achieved "cult status" thanks to celebrity endorsements, doctors caution that they are prescription medications meant to treat a chronic disease, not for cosmetic use.

Global pressures and a leadership change

Novo Nordisk's CEO, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, stepped down in May 2025 amid intense competition and a decline in the company's stock price that began in mid-2024. The company cited the need for new leadership as it confronts challenges from Eli Lilly, whose drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro have been steadily gaining market share against Wegovy and Ozempic. The resignation was described as a mutual decision between Jørgensen and the board, which is controlled by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

This executive change came just after a Q1 2025 earnings call where the company reported robust sales growth of 18 percent, driven largely by a 65 percent surge in its obesity care franchise. However, the company was also forced to reduce its full-year outlook, citing the impact of unlawful compounding of its GLP-1 drugs in the US.