Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) is preparing to roll out its diabetes medication Ozempic in India within the next few weeks, according to three people with knowledge of the development, Reuters reported. The company aims to strengthen its presence in the world’s most populous country, which is rapidly becoming a major market for diabetes and weight-loss treatments.
India has the second-largest population of people with type 2 diabetes after China, and rising obesity levels have made the country a crucial arena for global drugmakers competing in the booming weight-loss market expected to reach $150 billion annually by the decade’s end.
Ozempic, a once-weekly injectable approved by the U.S. FDA in 2017 for type 2 diabetes, has become a global phenomenon and is widely used off-label for weight management due to its appetite-reducing properties. Both Ozempic and Novo’s obesity drug Wegovy contain the active ingredient semaglutide.
One source said Novo is keen to introduce Ozempic in India before generic versions with lower prices arrive, adding that the launch could take place within the next three to four weeks.
Novo Nordisk received regulatory clearance in September to import and sell Ozempic in India. In an email to Reuters, Novo Nordisk India Managing Director Vikrant Shrotriya said the company hopes to launch the drug “as early as possible,” noting they are working to ensure the price is suitable for India’s cost-sensitive market. Bringing Ozempic to India will complete Novo’s semaglutide portfolio for both diabetes and obesity, he added.
Competition from Lilly and Incoming Generics
The push comes as Novo faces sharp competition from U.S. rival Eli Lilly (LLY.N). Lilly’s drug Mounjaro approved for both diabetes and weight loss was India’s top-selling drug by value in October, according to Pharmarack, with 262,000 doses sold. In comparison, Novo’s Wegovy, launched in India only in June, sold around 26,000 doses that same month.
Anticipating patent expiry in March 2026, Novo last month reduced Wegovy’s price in India by up to 37%, opening the door for lower-cost generics.
Indian pharmaceutical companies including Sun Pharma, Cipla, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and Lupin are already working on their own semaglutide-based products to tap into the fast-growing weight-loss segment.
Analyst Vishal Manchanda of Systematix Institutional Equities noted that Novo already enjoys strong brand equity in India’s diabetes care market through products like Rybelsus. This existing presence could help drive Ozempic uptake. He added that Ozempic may also see demand from patients dealing with infertility, sleep apnea or those seeking weight reduction.
Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are part of the GLP-1 agonist class of drugs, originally designed for diabetes but now widely used for weight loss as they mimic a hormone that slows digestion and increases fullness.
