Novo Nordisk has significantly reduced the prices of its popular medications Ozempic and Wegovy in India in response to increased competition from cheaper generic versions of semaglutide that have entered the market after key patents expired.
The company has announced a price cut of 36 percent for the starting dose of Ozempic and 48 percent for Wegovy, effective April 1. This brings the cost of initial therapy for both medications down to about Rs 202 per day. Under the new pricing, the 0.25 mg starting dose will cost Rs 1,415 per week, or Rs 5,660 per month, including taxes.
This move follows the expiration of patent protection on semaglutide injections on March 20, allowing Indian drug manufacturers to introduce generic versions at significantly lower prices, some ranging from Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,500 per month.
Compared to their initial launch prices, these price reductions represent some of the most significant adjustments made for these treatments in India. Ozempic, which was first introduced in December 2025, was initially priced between Rs 8,800 and Rs 11,175 per month depending on dosage. Wegovy, launched in June 2025, entered the market at a higher range of Rs 17,345 to Rs 26,015 per month.
Even before the recent price change, Novo Nordisk’s products were priced higher than generic alternatives, with starting dose weekly costs at Rs 2,200 for Ozempic and Rs 2,712 for Wegovy. The widening price gap, along with the rapid adoption of generic alternatives, has prompted the company to adjust pricing in one of India’s rapidly growing markets for treating diabetes and obesity.
On average, the price reductions amount to approximately 24 percent for Ozempic and 27 percent for Wegovy across all strengths. However, Novo Nordisk continues to position its products at a premium level, with higher-dose variants of Wegovy priced up to Rs 16,400 per month, aiming to remain in a “premium but accessible” segment rather than directly matching generic prices.
India has become a key battleground for semaglutide-based treatments, with over 40 domestic companies entering the market in recent months. These latest price reductions follow a previous decrease of about 37 percent in late 2025, indicating the ongoing pressure on innovator companies as branded generics gain momentum.
Novo Nordisk stated that the pricing adjustment is part of its strategy to enhance access to advanced cardiometabolic treatments. The company highlighted the clinical evidence supporting its products, including over 50 trials and nearly 49 million patient-years of global exposure, as well as manufacturing quality and cold-chain integrity as key differentiators.
This development reflects a broader trend in India’s pharmaceutical industry, where the loss of exclusive rights for high-value drugs is leading to intense price competition, improved accessibility, and a reevaluation of how global pharmaceutical companies position their treatments in price-sensitive markets.
First Published on April 1, 2026, 16:11:21 IST.
