Novo Nordisk to Launch Wegovy in 2026, Escalating Weight Loss Drug Competition

According to two sources familiar with the plan, Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk is establishing a new label team in India to strengthen its global market leadership, aiming to launch its popular weight loss drug Wegovy ahead of competitors like Eli Lilly. Officials from the Danish company stated that Wegovy is expected to enter the Indian market in 2026 once regulatory approval is obtained and supply is ensured. Recently, Novo Nordisk's team in India suggested delaying the launch until next year, while Eli Lilly is also expected to launch its weight loss drug Mounjaro around the same time.

An anonymous source indicated that about two months ago, during an internal meeting at Novo Nordisk's headquarters in Denmark, the Indian team expressed concerns that if Wegovy is not launched early, the company might fall behind Eli Lilly in the domestic market. Novo Nordisk declined to comment on internal discussions, and Reuters could not confirm the response received by Indian senior management.

Wegovy, along with Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug Ozempic (which contains the same active ingredient), and Mounjaro, belong to a class of treatments known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which help control blood sugar levels and slow digestion, extending the feeling of fullness. Both companies have been working to meet the growing demand in the U.S. and other countries that have launched such drugs. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are expanding production capacity to compete for dominance in the weight loss drug market. Some analysts predict that China's weight loss market could reach $150 billion annually within the next decade.

According to a source, Novo Nordisk received regulatory approval to use injectable semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic) in India by the end of 2022. Novo Nordisk India stated in a release to Reuters: "We are working hard to bring Wegovy (semaglutide injection 2.4 mg) to market as soon as possible. A specific launch date has not yet been determined." Eli Lilly stated in response to Reuters that the launch of Mounjaro in 2025 will also depend on supply conditions.