The Weight Is Over—Novo Nordisk Officially Launches Wegovy at ₹17,345/month in India

Image Source: The Economic Times

Novo Nordisk India formally introduced its much-awaited weight-reduction injectable drug, Wegovy (semaglutide), in India, marking a major milestone in the country's obesity treatment market. Managing Director Vikrant Shrotriya unveiled the launch on June 24, 2025, with distribution already rolled out in key metros.

1. Product Details and Price

Wegovy is a weekly injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist, which has been formulated to support weight loss by suppressing appetite and slowing down digestion.
It comes in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg strengths, costing ₹4,366 per week's dose, amounting to ₹17,345 for a month.
The medicine is dispensed through FlexTouch pen-like injectors, enabling easy self-administration.

2. Market Context and Competitive Landscape

India is the third-most-obese nation globally, with over 250 million impacted people, making it a high-potential market for anti-obesity drugs.
Wegovy enters the market just months after Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, kicking off a high-stakes pharma war.
Novo Nordisk is aiming for $1 billion (₹8,600 crore) of sales in India within five to seven years from its strong insulin market position.

3. Strategic Significance

The launch is considered a race against time, with Wegovy's patent in India expiring in 2026 and generic versions projected to inundate the market.
Novo Nordisk also remains locked in ongoing patent battles with local players like Dr. Reddy's Laboratories and OnceSource.
The company can be expected to pursue a competitive price strategy to capture early market share and slow down Mounjaro's momentum.

Sources: The Hindu Business Line, News18, Economic Times