Ozempic Comes To India At Rs 2,200 Weekly Dose, Novo Nordisk Cautions Against Unsupervised Use

Last Updated:December 12, 2025, 13:11 IST

Ozempic has been approved for type-2 diabetes, while Novo Nordisk’s other global blockbuster Wegovy is targeted at obesity.

Boxes of Ozempic and Wegovy made by Novo Nordisk are seen at a pharmacy in London. (REUTERS/File Photo)

A Sunday brunch or a gym membership — for many urban Indians, that’s roughly what they spend in a week. Now, that same sum will buy a week’s supply of Ozempic, the global blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drug that Novo Nordisk has launched in India with a deliberate “India-tiered" price.

Novo Nordisk India managing director Vikrant Shrotiya told News18 in an exclusive interview that the company has rolled out an “India-tiered pricing" strategy to improve affordability.

“For this anti-diabetes drug Ozempic, we have actually brought in at a price which is very nominal — Rs 2,200 per week."

A single pen contains four weekly doses and will cost Rs 8,800 inclusive of taxes. “We discussed with doctors, patients here in India and our global teams aligned with us on the decision to keep the affordable price for this very important drug."

The rival drug, Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro starts at Rs 3,200 weekly dose whereas Novo Nordisk’s another weight loss drug Wegovy starts at Rs 2,700.

Soon, Ozempic will be available at nearby chemist shops as distribution is already underway across the country.

“While I’m talking to you, the trucks are there on the road, and then it is getting in the distribution chain across India… It should be there at the pharmacy, very soon," Shrotiya said.

He added that the drug will be available in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg strengths.

“The highest of the dose is only Rs 11,175… it is quite within the reach and for affordability for quite a lot of patients in India," he said.

Patent Expiry Ahead, Competition Rising

On being asked, if Ozempic launch is an attempt to gain the market amid Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro gaining more traction than Wegovy or because Ozempic is set to lose patent in March 2026, Shrotiya said this losing patent is a natural process and the company is prepared.

“Every patent has a life cycle… by March, we will also lose the exclusivity on this molecule," he said.

For Mounjaro’s competition, he said, it will only help expand access to fight obesity. “It requires many companies, many organisations, stakeholder doctors, patients to come together and fight together against it… but coming from Novo Nordisk, I would wish that we lead that fight with our brands and with our portfolio approach."

India’s Twin Burden: Diabetes and Obesity

India has one of the world’s largest diabetes populations. “You will be surprised that we have got 100 million people who are diabetic and only half of them know… by the time a person comes to know that they are having diabetes actually half the Beta cells have already died," Shrotiya said while adding that only 6% of patients achieve optimal glycaemic control.

Obesity numbers are similarly striking, with rising risk even at lower BMI levels unique to Indians.

“India has got a huge burden… we have got 250 million people who are obese, and then we have got 350 million people who have got this central obesity problem… we call it visceral obesity," he said.

He described both the “thin-fat Indian" and “fat-fat Indian" patterns and noted that urban obesity already affects 40 per cent of adults.

Ozempic vs Wegovy

According to Shrotiya, Ozempic has been approved for type-2 diabetes, while Novo Nordisk’s other global blockbuster Wegovy – which was launched in India in June – targets obesity.

Shrotiya explained the distinction: “Ozempic is… studied for people who have got diabetes. Then Wegovy goes to the higher strength which is 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg for obesity reduction… Wegovy has been studied for patients with obesity alone with or without diabetes."

A Warning Against Cosmetic Misuse

As global hype fuels demand among young, healthy users, Shrotiya cautioned strongly against unsupervised use.

“Please do not do it. And at least not for weight loss… do not try to medicate yourself. That is a strict no no," he said.

He added: “When there are 10 people who are taking and they are self-medicating, we do not know what kind of issues can emerge… doctors are well read… It is like going to court without a lawyer. You don’t do that."

Next-Generation Obesity and Diabetes Drugs In Making Already

Even as Ozempic enters India, Novo Nordisk is advancing a pipeline of more powerful metabolic drugs. While the drugs will become more powerful in terms of efficacy and lesser side effects, they will come in pill form instead of current injectable formats.

“Research never ends… they are looking for the next level of the research. We are talking about the oral semaglutide for obesity reduction, we are talking about CagriSema, we are talking about amycretin, we are talking about many of the molecules in terms of obesity reduction, in terms of metabolic disease disorders," Shrotiya said.

“I would wish that any of those major breakthroughs should come from Novo Nordisk."

He also pointed to real-world impact in other countries. “When you look at the US, obesity has reduced from 40 per cent to 37 per cent. I wish this also happens in India with the launch of these GLP-1s," he said.

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