Novo Nordisk Targets High Demand Indian Market For Its Popular Obesity Drugs Like Wegovy

Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk A/s NVO has set its sights on India for the introduction of its breakthrough weight-loss drug Wegovy. 

The company aims for a 2026 launch in the country, contingent on securing regulatory approvals and ensuring an adequate supply to meet the anticipated demand. 

This strategic move comes as obesity rates, particularly among women, remain alarmingly high in India, presenting a substantial market opportunity.

Also Read: Popular Weight Loss Drugs Ozempic and Wegovy Alert: FDA Adds Intestinal Blockage Warning.

Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk India, expressed optimism about the drug's potential in India, stating, "I think there would be quite a lot of patients and quite a lot of doctors who would be interested in this therapeutic area."

However, Shrotriya warned sternly against purchasing copycat versions of Wegovy, already circulating online. 

Despite holding the patent for the active ingredient in Wegovy, semaglutide, Novo Nordisk has not initiated legal action against counterfeiters due to difficulties tracking them down.

"We have not been able to take legal action because we have not been able to catch them," Shrotriya said, adding that while the illegal sellers were "difficult to trace," the company had not seen any large syndicates selling the drug in India, Shrotriya told Reuters.

Despite some skepticism about the timing of Wegovy's India launch, driven by concerns over market maturity and pricing, Novo Nordisk remains confident in the potential of this groundbreaking treatment to address India's obesity epidemic.

Price Action: NVO shares are up 1.18% at $92.60 during the premarket session on the last check Friday.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.