Healthcare/Biotech
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Updated on 11 Nov 2025, 03:40 pm
Reviewed By
Akshat Lakshkar | Whalesbook News Team
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Novo Nordisk, the Danish healthcare company, has announced significant price reductions for its injectable drug Wegovy (semaglutide) in India, a key treatment for diabetes and chronic weight management. The starting dose (0.25 mg) has seen a 37% price decrease, now costing ₹2,712 per week. Other dose strengths also reflect substantial cuts: 20% for 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg, 32% for 1.7 mg, and 36.9% for the 2.4 mg dose.
This strategic move follows Novo Nordisk's recent partnership with Emcure Pharmaceuticals, designed to broaden access to Wegovy for patients across India. Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk India, stated, "Obesity is a serious concern for India, and this price revision underlines our mission to provide quality obesity treatment to Indians which is effective, safe, convenient and can be sustained in their daily lives."
The anti-obesity segment is dynamic, with Eli Lilly's Mounjaro also recently partnering with Cipla to enhance its market reach in India. Adding to the competitive landscape, Novo Nordisk's patent for semaglutide is set to expire early next year, potentially paving the way for generic versions.
Impact This aggressive pricing strategy and enhanced distribution via Emcure Pharmaceuticals are expected to significantly boost Wegovy's market penetration and sales volume in India. It intensifies competition in the rapidly growing diabetes and obesity drug market, potentially influencing the strategies of other global and domestic pharmaceutical companies. The move also underscores India's growing importance as a market for advanced therapeutic treatments. Investors tracking the Indian pharmaceutical sector, particularly companies involved in diabetes, obesity management, or potential generic drug manufacturing, should monitor these developments closely. Rating: 8/10
Difficult terms: * **Injectable semaglutide**: A medication administered via injection that mimics a natural hormone (GLP-1) to help control blood sugar levels and reduce appetite, used for type 2 diabetes and weight management. * **Chronic weight management medication**: A drug or therapy intended for long-term use to help individuals maintain a healthy weight, particularly when obesity poses significant health risks. * **Patent expiry**: The date when the legal protection for an invention, such as a drug formula, ends. After expiry, other companies can legally produce and sell generic versions of the drug.