Key Takeaways
- Novo Nordisk cuts Wegovy starting dose price by 37% to ₹10,850 monthly
- Patent protection ends in March 2026, allowing generic competition
- Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro dominates Indian market with 10x higher sales
- New partnership with Emcure Pharmaceuticals to expand market reach
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has announced significant price reductions for its weight-loss medication Wegovy in India, with the starting dose now costing 37% less at ₹10,850 per month compared to the previous ₹17,345.
Patent Deadline Drives Price Strategy
The price cut comes as Novo Nordisk races to establish market presence before losing patent exclusivity in March 2026. Once patent protection ends, major Indian drug manufacturers including Dr Reddy’s, Sun Pharma, Mankind Pharma, and Natco are expected to launch lower-cost generic versions.
Wegovy, containing semaglutide, was introduced in India in June 2025 as a weekly injection available in five strengths. The weekly price has been reduced to ₹2,712 from ₹4,336. The 0.5 mg and 1 mg doses now cost ₹13,850 monthly, while the higher 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg doses are priced at ₹16,400 each.
Competitive Pressure Intensifies
This strategic move mirrors patterns seen in the US market, where drug prices often decline before patent expiration as companies prepare for branded competition. The price reduction puts pressure on domestic manufacturers to lower their planned generic pricing to remain competitive.
Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk India, stated: “Obesity is a serious concern for India and this price revision underlines our mission to provide quality obesity treatment to Indians which is effective, safe, convenient and can be sustained in their daily lives.”
Partnership Expansion and Market Challenges
In a parallel development, Novo Nordisk revealed an exclusive distribution partnership with Pune-based Emcure Pharmaceuticals. The collaboration will market the weight-loss drug under the Poviztra brand name as a 2.4 mg weekly injection. While specific pricing and launch timing remain undisclosed, both companies committed to “very competitive” pricing to expand market access.
Meanwhile, competitor Eli Lilly has captured significant market share with its weight-loss drug Mounjaro. By October 2025, Mounjaro had become India’s top-selling brand with ₹100 crore in sales, launched in late March 2025. Mounjaro’s pricing starts at ₹14,000 monthly for the 2.5 mg dose and reaches ₹27,500 for the 15 mg dose.
According to Pharmarack data, Mounjaro’s monthly sales outpaced Wegovy by nearly ten times as of October, highlighting the competitive challenge Novo Nordisk faces in the Indian weight-loss drug market .
