Ozempic, which is injected once a week under careful medical supervision, is said to help control diabetes and help Type 2 patients reduce weight by 7-10 per cent
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Hollie Adams
Global healthcare major Novo Nordisk on Friday announced the launch of its semaglutide injection, Ozempic, in India, which will be priced between ₹8,800 and ₹11,175 for a four-week pack. The company is aiming at a market of about 25 million, noting that three out of four people among the 100 million in the country who suffer from Type 2 diabetes currently prefer oral medicine.
However, the company has no ‘Make in India’ plan; instead, Ozempic will be imported from Denmark and sold in India, leveraging the approximately $20 billion investment made to produce it in a few global locations.
Ozempic, which is injected once a week under careful medical supervision, is said to help control diabetes and help Type 2 patients reduce weight by 7-10 per cent, according to AG Unnikrishnan, Chief Endocrinologist and CEO of the Pune-based Chellaram Diabetes Institute.
But, Unnikrishnan added, Ozempic is not recommended for children. In individuals aged 65–70 years and above, the decision to treat is left entirely to doctors, even though the drug offers potential benefits in muscle management.
Semaglutide is prescribed by doctors to manage type 2 diabetes as well as long-term weight management in adults. Ozempic is suitable for adults with HbA1c levels of 7 or more, including those with high cardiovascular risk or established cardiovascular disease.
Addressing the launch event, Novo Nordisk India’s Managing Director Vikrant Shrotriya said Ozempic will now be available in India in different dosages of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg in an easy-to-use pen device.
Novo Nordisk had launched its popular global brand Wegovy, a weight loss injection, in India in June, which is available on online platforms at ₹16,400 for 3 ml of 2.4 mg, normally used for a month.
On pricing, he said: “We have not reached a level where everybody can buy, and that will never be the case for any medication in India.”
As the patent for injectable semaglutide expires in 2026, he said the company is prepared for competition since generic players are expected to enter the market. However, he did not rule out the possibility of a fall in the overall prices of the injection after it becomes generic.
Published on December 12, 2025