Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has launched its widely used diabetes therapy, Ozempic, in India, marking a strategic entry into one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets for metabolic diseases.
India’s Diabetes and Obesity Challenge
In India, Ozempic is approved for adults with type 2 diabetes as a first-line treatment alongside diet and exercise. Beyond lowering blood sugar, the drug also supports weight loss and provides cardiovascular and kidney protection—critical benefits for a country with a high diabetes burden.
WHO data indicates that in 2023–24, India had 10.1 crore adults with diabetes, the second-highest population globally after China. Another 13.6 crore people live with prediabetes. Obesity is also rising, with 25.4 crore people classified as generally obese and 35.1 crore as having abdominal obesity, a significant risk factor for metabolic disorders.
These factors make Ozempic a crucial addition to Novo Nordisk’s offerings, positioning the company to capture a significant portion of India’s growing GLP-1 therapy market.
About Ozempic and Its Key Benefits For Indian Diabetes Patients
Ozempic contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Wegovy, which was introduced in India in June for weight loss. While Ozempic is primarily approved for type 2 diabetes management, it has gained international attention for off-label weight-loss use due to its strong appetite-suppressing properties.
Semaglutide, along with Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide (marketed as Mounjaro in India), belongs to the GLP-1 class of drugs, which mimic gut hormones to regulate blood sugar, curb appetite, and prolong feelings of fullness.
In India, Ozempic is approved for adults with type 2 diabetes as a first-line treatment alongside diet and exercise. Beyond lowering blood sugar, the drug also supports weight loss and provides cardiovascular and kidney protection critical benefits for a country with a high diabetes burden.
Ozempic a crucial addition to Novo Nordisk’s offerings, positioning the company to capture a significant portion of India’s growing GLP-1 therapy market.
Novo Nordisk Full semaglutide portfolio in India
With the launch of Ozempic, Novo Nordisk now offers its full semaglutide portfolio in India, including Rybelsus (oral diabetes therapy) and Wegovy (obesity treatment). First approved in the US in 2017, Ozempic is now available in 75 countries and has been used by over 75 lakh people globally. High global demand has occasionally strained supply chains, particularly in the US, though manufacturing capacity has since been expanded.
Also Read: 8th Pay Commission Updates: Expected Salary Increase, Fitment Factor & Pension Revision
Ozempic Competitive Landscape in India
Competition in the market is intensifying. Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, which entered India earlier, quickly became the top-selling pharmaceutical, generating Rs 100 crore in sales in October and Rs 108 crore in November, according to Pharmatrac.
However, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy disrupted the market after a recent price reduction of 37%, bringing per-dose costs to Rs 2,700–4,100. This led to a 70% increase in consumption, with Wegovy’s market share rising from 9% in October to 14% in November, while Mounjaro’s share dropped from 91% to 86%.
To expand reach beyond metro cities, both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have partnered with Indian pharma companies—Cipla and Emcure, respectively. Shrotriya clarified that Novo Nordisk’s collaboration with Emcure is limited to distributing the weight-loss drug Poviztra and does not include Ozempic.
Ozempic Pricing Strategy
Novo Nordisk aims to keep Ozempic’s pricing in line with Wegovy’s affordable range. Shrotriya said, “For Ozempic, we would like to be in the same range, range bound, because more patients can now afford this kind of price point for injectable semaglutide.” The company has introduced India-specific pricing for the once-weekly injectable. The 0.25 mg starting dose is priced at Rs 2,200 per week, the 0.5 mg step-up dose costs Rs 2,542, and the 1 mg maintenance dose is set at Rs 2,793 per week. Vikrant Shrotriya, managing director of Novo Nordisk India, explained that these prices aim to “address the issue of the drug’s affordability.”
What is next?
As GLP-1 therapies gain popularity globally and in India, Novo Nordisk’s launch of Ozempic reflects its plan to expand deeper into the country’s diabetes and obesity market, which is expected to reach Rs 25,000 crore by 2030.