- Wegovy® – once-weekly injectable weight management medication – now available in India
- Wegovy® is the first and only weight management medication indicated for both chronic weight management and risk reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events like stroke, heart attack and cardiovascular disease related death in individuals with overweight or obesity[1]
- Wegovy® is available in an innovative, easy-to-use pen device across five dosing strengths
- Wegovy® comes with an India-specific price with benefit of same price for first three dosing strengths to support dosage adjustment without additional financial impact.
Mumbai, June 25, 2025: Novo Nordisk, a leading global healthcare company headquartered in Denmark with over a 100-year legacy of chronic disease care, announced the launch of Wegovy® (injectable Semaglutide) in India. Wegovy® – a once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) – is the first and only weight management medication in India indicated for both long-term chronic weight management and reduction in risk of major adverse cardiovascular events[2] in people living with the condition. It is available in five dosing strengths with the convenience of an innovative easy-to-use pen device.
Wegovy® is a prescription-only medication that has the potential to improve the quality of life for millions of Indians living with obesity or overweight. As per the INDIAB study, India has 254 million people with generalised obesity and 351 people with abdominal obesity.[3]
India has the third highest number of people living with overweight and obesity. Alarmingly, obesity is associated with over 200 diseases[4], including cardiovascular diseases, certain types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Misconceptions about obesity include that it is the result of poor lifestyle choices and a lack of self-discipline. However, obesity is caused by many different factors, including genetics, biology, psychology, society and the environment we live in. As with other chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes or asthma, obesity requires long-term management with effective treatment solutions.
Clinical studies with Semaglutide 2.4 mg (the active ingredient in Wegovy®) demonstrate:
- 20% or more weight reduction in at least 1 in 3 individuals when used along with lifestyle interventions comprising reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.[5]
- 20% reduction in the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, like cardiovascular disease related death, heart attack (myocardial infarction), stroke and when used on top of standard of care in people with established cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity.1
How does Wegovy® work?
Wegovy® is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that acts on key areas of the brain involved in appetite regulation and food intake thereby reducing hunger, improving satiety and reducing cravings for food, eventually inducing weight-loss.[6],[7] It also improves insulin resistance and has a beneficial effect on reduction of cardiometabolic events and risk factors.
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in both Ozempic® and Wegovy®. While Ozempic® in many countries across the world is indicated for the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes[8], Wegovy® is indicated for weight management and reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight1.
Ozempic® and Wegovy® have been studied extensively in different trial participants and are indicated for different uses, as well as available in different dosages. Ozempic® is not yet available in India. It is strongly advised that people with overweight or obesity speak to their doctor for appropriate treatment options.
Addressing the media, Vikrant Shrotriya – Managing Director, Novo Nordisk India said, “Obesity is not just a personal health concern—it is a chronic disease and a national epidemic that India cannot afford to ignore. Recognising this, we are proud to announce that we are bringing Wegovy® to Indians as a transformative and evidence-based therapeutic solution with the convenience of a world-class, state-of-the-art pen device. Additionally, we have an India-specific price with the benefit of same price for the first three dosing strengths. With this we are reaffirming our commitment to address India’s growing burden of overweight and obesity.”
Wegovy® will be available in a once-weekly innovative pen device in five dose strengths – 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg and a maintenance dosing of 2.4 mg. The state-of-the-art pen device provides the convenience of simple administration and precise dosing.
The burden of obesity in India
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 (2019-21) data suggests that overall, 24% of Indian women and 23% of Indian men live with overweight or obesity in India. There has also been an increase in the percentage of children under 5 years who are overweight (weight-for-height) from 2.1% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 3.4% in NFHS-5 (2019-21) at all-India level.[1] Obesity increases the risk for over 230 medical conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, certain cancers, arthritis, lipid disorders, sleep apnea, and type 2 diabetes.[2] As per World Obesity Federation’s projections, the total economic cost of obesity in India is expected to grow by over 10 times by 2060 as compared to 2030.[3]
Corporate Comm India (CCI Newswire)
