In a virtual interaction with Business Standard, Vikrant Shrotriya, managing director of Novo Nordisk India, said the company remains optimistic about the oral semaglutide segment, particularly for type-2 diabetes.
“Oral is one of the most convenient ways of taking medication, and we are having a very good run in terms of patient acceptability for oral semaglutide, with numbers remaining quite strong,” he said.
According to Pharmarack data, Rybelsus has seen steady growth since its 2022 launch. Its moving annual turnover (MAT) for November 2024–October 2025 stood at ₹389 crore, up from ₹366 crore and ₹204 crore in the previous two years. The company is also developing an oral anti-obesity drug, Shrotriya added.
The comments come a day after Novo Nordisk announced up to a 37 per cent price cut for Wegovy, its injectable semaglutide brand.
Wegovy injections, available in five dose strengths (0.25 mg to 2.4 mg), were earlier priced between ₹17,345 and ₹26,050. After the revision, the 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg doses will cost ₹16,400, 0.5 mg and 1 mg will cost ₹13,850, and 0.25 mg will be priced at ₹10,850.
Calling obesity “a serious concern for India,” Shrotriya said the move underscores Novo’s goal of offering treatments that are “effective, safe, convenient and can be sustained in daily lives.
“When we launch the molecule, our first step is to bring innovation faster to the country. After that we try to see how it can go in terms of accessibility to the larger population across India. For that, we have to get it into the price range which is acceptable,” he said.
Pharmarack data shows Wegovy has clocked ₹37 crore in cumulative sales, including ₹9 crore over the last three months. In comparison, rival Mounjaro has generated ₹333 crore since its March launch and was the top-selling drug by revenue in October, at ₹100 crore.
Shrotriya said Novo expects higher demand for Wegovy following the price cuts and has uninterrupted supply to cater to India’s “potentially very big” anti-obesity market. Studies estimate that over 600 million Indians live with generalised or abdominal obesity.
With the semaglutide molecule’s patent set to expire in March 2026, the market is expected to open to generics. Shrotriya said Novo currently has no plans for further price cuts but will remain competitive.
“Novo Nordisk is going to play a competitive game, but the game is far beyond the competition. It is also the game of purpose, commitment, quality, consistency and staying true to the values,” he said.
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