Weight-loss drug Ozempic launched in India

Novo Nordisk has officially launched its globally popular weight-loss and diabetes drug Ozempic in India, with prices starting at Rs 8,800 for a four-week starter dose.

Ozempic — a once-weekly semaglutide injection — is approved in India for adults with uncontrolled type-2 diabetes and comes in three doses: 0.25 mg (Rs 8,800), 0.5 mg (Rs 10,170), and 1 mg (Rs 11,175). Each pre-filled pen delivers four weekly shots via a painless Novofine needle.

Calling it a “major milestone,” Novo Nordisk India MD Vikrant Shrotriya said Ozempic offers Indian doctors a trusted therapy with benefits spanning glycaemic control, weight management, and long-term heart and kidney protection — all through a simple pen device.

First approved by the US FDA in 2017, Ozempic has gained huge global traction, including off-label use for weight loss due to its strong appetite-suppressing effects. The drug works as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, lowering HbA1c, regulating hunger, aiding weight loss in diabetics, and reducing cardiovascular and kidney risks.

With India facing a fast-rising diabetes burden, Ozempic’s entry marks a significant moment in chronic care treatment options.