Novo Nordisk Targets ₹8,600 Crore India Sales with Weight-Loss Drug Wegovy

Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk is gearing up for a major expansion in India with its blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide). According to a report by The Economic Times, the company has set an ambitious sales target of $1 billion (approximately ₹8,600 crore) over the next five to seven years in the Indian market.

Pan-India Launch Imminent

Citing industry sources, The Economic Times revealed that Novo Nordisk is preparing for a pan-India rollout of Wegovy, supported by a robust go-to-market strategy. The drug is expected to be launched in five strengths, delivered via the Flex Touch pen device, designed for easy, self-administered dosing. Each pack will include four needles for patient use.

Targeting Top Spot in India’s Prescription Drug Market

If Wegovy hits its projected sales numbers, it could dethrone MSD India’s Keytruda (currently India’s top-selling prescription drug with over ₹1,600 crore in annual sales). Globally, Wegovy generated $8 billion in 2024, while its diabetes-specific counterpart Ozempic earned $17 billion.

Novo Nordisk already commands 62% market share in India’s ₹4,943 crore insulin segment, giving it a solid platform for Wegovy’s launch.

“20-20” Health Strategy

Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk India, confirmed the impending full-scale launch and emphasized the drug’s dual purpose: not just weight loss but cardiovascular protection as well.

“We call it the 20-20 strategy — 20% weight loss and 20% cardiovascular risk reduction,” Shrotriya said.

The company also sees potential for Wegovy in treating fatty liver disease (MASH) and chronic kidney disease, citing early clinical results that show a 37% reduction in liver fat and 24% risk reduction for kidney disease.

India’s Obesity Crisis: A Growing Opportunity

India is now the third most obese nation in the world, following the US and China. Recent studies reveal that 254 million Indians suffer from general obesity, while 351 million face abdominal obesity. Wegovy’s multi-organ health benefits position it as a strong candidate to address these growing concerns.

Addressing Vision Loss Concerns

Reports have emerged linking semaglutide to a rare eye condition called NAION (nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy). In response, Novo Nordisk highlighted that over 52,000 patients have used the drug in clinical trials and more than 33 million patient-years of real-world data have shown no causal link between semaglutide and NAION.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has asked Novo Nordisk to include NAION as a rare side effect in the drug label, a request the company has agreed to comply with.

Competition from Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro

Novo Nordisk faces increasing pressure from Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro (tirzepatide), which recently debuted in India and generated ₹24 crore in revenue within just three months, according to PharmaTrac data.

Additionally, the semaglutide patent in India is set to expire in March 2026, opening the door for Indian generics. Novo Nordisk has already initiated legal proceedings against Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and OneSource in the Delhi High Court for alleged patent violations.

Despite the challenges, Novo Nordisk’s aggressive push with Wegovy signals its commitment to tapping into India's fast-growing weight management and chronic disease treatment market.