Novo Nordisk launches Wegovy in India to rival Eli Lilly's weight-loss drug

Wegovy enters the Indian market as the first GLP-1 drug approved for both weight loss and cardiovascular risk reduction, competing with Eli Lilly's Mounjaro

Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk has launched its weight loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide) in India, heating up competition in the country’s limited but growing GLP-1 drug market already buzzing with US giant Eli Lilly’s entry. 

 

Eli Lilly had launched its GLP-1 based therapy Mounjaro (tirzepatide) three months ago.

 

India ranks third globally in overweight and obesity prevalence.

 

Both Wegovy and Mounjaro are once-weekly injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists and are part of a new class of drugs gaining popularity globally for managing obesity and associated cardiovascular risks. However, the two drugs differ in their indications, pricing strategies, and clinical positioning.

 

Both drugs fall under the GLP-1 receptor agonist class and are administered weekly.

 

Novo claims Wegovy is the only GLP-1-based product in India currently approved for both chronic weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction. It is available in five dosing strengths, 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg. With the first three strengths priced identically at ₹17,345 per month. The higher doses are priced at ₹24,280 (1.7 mg) and ₹26,050 (2.4 mg).

 

In comparison, Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro is priced at ₹14,000 for the 2.5 mg starting dose and ₹ 17,500 for the 5 mg dose per month. It is supplied in vials rather than in a ready-to-use pen device. 

 

According to Novo Nordisk, the launch of Wegovy is being carried out pan-India with full dosing availability from the start. The company says it has activated its existing logistics and cold chain infrastructure to distribute the drug, which is imported from Denmark. There are no current plans for local manufacturing.

 

Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk India, said the Indian obesity drug market remains small, estimated at under ₹100 crore. But it also presents a large opportunity due to high unmet need. The company sees a $1 billion opportunity in sales in the next 5 to 7 years.

 

Novo Nordisk is positioning Wegovy as the only therapy in India approved for both long-term weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction. According to the SELECT trial, semaglutide 2.4 mg led to a 20 per cent reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke, among patients with overweight or obesity and established heart disease. It also helped at least one in three patients achieve 20 per cent or more weight loss when combined with lifestyle interventions.

 

Mounjaro has demonstrated greater weight loss than semaglutide in head-to-head global trials, including the SURPASS-2 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, where tirzepatide showed superior reductions in both weight and blood sugar levels. However, Mounjaro currently does not carry an India-approved indication for cardiovascular risk reduction.

 

“If you’re only looking at weight loss, tirzepatide comes out ahead. But semaglutide has stronger evidence today for reducing heart, kidney, and overall mortality risks, it’s not just about the kilos lost,” stated Rajiv Kovil, Head of Diabetology, Zandra Healthcare. 

 

“The dual edge of Wegovy lies in both weight loss and proven cardiac benefits,” Shrotriya said. “We are not merely selling a drug, we are offering a comprehensive, evidence-backed solution for a complex, chronic disease.”

 

Wegovy will be available by the end of June at pharmacies across the country. Novo Nordisk confirmed that the drug is already in central warehouses and under distribution. The company is not currently planning partnerships for distribution and is operating independently.

 

Asked about competition and pricing, the company said that its strategy includes keeping the initial three dosing levels at the same price to ease patient transition and increase treatment adherence. The drug is supplied in disposable pens that contain four doses each, allowing self-administration.

 

Novo Nordisk has over 4,000 stockists in India and says it has an existing distribution reach in Tier II and Tier III cities. Cold chain requirements are already supported through its insulin supply network.

 

While the current demand is uncertain, the company acknowledged supply constraints faced by GLP-1 drugs globally and said precautions have been taken to avoid disruption in India.

 

The long-term growth of the market, the company said, will depend on awareness, diagnosis, access to treatment, and eventual competition from generics. 

Key Features

Wegovy is approved for both chronic weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction 

It is available in five dosing strengths  

The first 3 strengths are priced identically at ₹17,345 per month  

Higher doses are priced at ₹24,280 and ₹26,050