Danish drugmaker officials have indicated that Wegovy could be available in India by 2026, contingent upon obtaining regulatory approvals and ensuring adequate supply. However, the India team has recently suggested advancing the launch to next year, coinciding with Lilly's anticipated release of its weight-loss drug, Mounjaro.
During a confidential meeting at Novo's headquarters in Denmark approximately two months ago, the India team expressed worries that delaying Wegovy's launch could result in the company trailing behind Lilly in the local market, as reported by one source who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
Novo has refrained from commenting on internal matters, and Reuters was unable to ascertain the response from the executives based in India.
Wegovy, along with Novo's diabetes medication Ozempic—both containing the same active ingredient—and Mounjaro, are classified as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which assist in regulating blood sugar levels and prolonging the sensation of fullness.
Both companies are facing challenges in meeting the surging demand in the U.S. and other countries where the drugs have been launched. Novo and Lilly are ramping up production efforts as they compete for a significant share of a weight-loss market projected by some analysts to reach $150 billion annually within the next decade.
Novo received regulatory approval in India for injectable semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, in late 2022, according to one of the sources.
"We are working diligently to make Wegovy (semaglutide injection 2.4 milligrams) available as soon as possible. However, we do not have a confirmed launch date at this time," Novo India stated in a communication to Reuters.
Lilly indicated, in response to a request from Reuters, that the launch of Mounjaro in 2025 will also depend on the supply situation.
Last month, Novo introduced Wegovy in China, the second-largest pharmaceuticals market globally, pricing the initial month's supply at 1,400 yuan ($193.27), significantly lower than its U.S. list price exceeding $1,300, although most consumers do not pay that amount.
Generic drug manufacturers in India, such as Cipla and Dr. Reddy's, are producing more affordable versions of Wegovy, with the launch timing contingent on patent expiration. Sun Pharmaceutical, the largest drugmaker in India by revenue, is also working on its own experimental GLP weight-loss medication.
With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, India has witnessed a rise in obesity rates. A government survey conducted from 2019 to 2021 revealed that 24% of women and nearly 23% of men aged 15 to 49 were classified as overweight or obese, an increase from 20.6% of women and 19% of men in 2015-2016.
Dr. Rishma Pai, a consultant gynecologist at three hospitals in Mumbai, who participated in a Novo survey regarding perceptions of obesity, noted that the company has been engaging various types of doctors for several years to enhance awareness of obesity treatments and to better understand how to foster their acceptance in India.
Acceptance now seems to be less of a concern.
"Every patient is inquiring about these weight-loss injections," Pai stated.