Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical major, has launched its weight loss drug Wegovy in India, offering it as a once-a-week injectable therapy. This move adds to the growing anti-obesity drug market in the country, alongside Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, which was launched earlier.
The drug is priced at Rs 17,345 per month for the lower-dose options and goes up to Rs 26,015 for higher doses. The company has offered the same pricing for the first three dosing strengths to ensure a consistent cost structure for patients starting treatment.
What is Wegovy?
Wegovy contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics a gut hormone involved in appetite regulation, blood sugar control, and delayed gastric emptying. While semaglutide is also the active ingredient in diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Rybelsus, Wegovy is approved specifically for weight loss in patients with morbid obesity.
Pricing in India
- 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg doses: Rs 17,345/month
- 1.7 mg dose: Rs 24,280/month
- 2.4 mg dose: Rs 26,015/month
In comparison, Mounjaro, which contains tirzepatide, is priced between Rs 14,000–17,500/month depending on the dose.
Key Benefits from Studies
Clinical trials have shown that:
- Users of Wegovy lost an average of 15% body weight
- One in three users lost up to 20% of their body weight
- Risk of heart attacks and strokes dropped by 20%
- All-cause mortality risk reduced by 19%
- Heart failure events dropped by 69%
- Liver fat build-up resolved in 63% of patients
However, doctors caution that muscle loss and weight regain after discontinuation are real concerns.
How Does It Compare with Mounjaro?
In a direct comparison trial:
- 42.3% of users on tirzepatide (Mounjaro) lost 15% or more body weight
- Only 18.1% of users on semaglutide (Wegovy) achieved the same
- Average weight loss:
- Tirzepatide: 15.3%
- Semaglutide: 8.3%
Outlook
Experts say the arrival of Wegovy in India marks a significant shift in obesity treatment. The weekly injection format, coupled with promising cardiovascular and liver-related benefits, is expected to appeal to patients with comorbidities like diabetes and heart disease.
Novo Nordisk’s launch comes as India grapples with a rising obesity burden, with doctors urging the need to treat it as a chronic disease, not just a lifestyle issue.
