Novo Nordisk partners with Emcure to launch weight loss drug semaglutide under Poviztra brand in India

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Summary

The collaboration will strengthen the distribution and marketing of semaglutide for weight loss, particularly through pharmacies and in regions beyond those currently served by Novo Nordisk India.

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The Indian subsidiary of Danish pharma major Novo Nordisk has partnered with Pune-based Emcure Pharma to expand the reach of its weight-loss injection, semaglutide, in India.

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Emcure will launch semaglutide injection 2.4 mg under the brand name Poviztra, while Novo Nordisk India will market the same product under the brand name Wegovy in the country.

The collaboration will strengthen the distribution and marketing of semaglutide for weight loss, particularly through pharmacies and in regions beyond those currently served by Novo Nordisk India.

 “Obesity is a serious chronic disease affecting millions of people across India and results in significant unmet medical needs. Recognising the magnitude of the obesity challenge, we launched Wegovy in India a few months ago. Now, we are happy to join hands with Emcure Pharma to broaden access to high-quality, safe, and effective obesity treatment. This partnership brings together Novo Nordisk’s innovation in GLP-1 therapies and Emcure’s robust marketing and distribution capabilities to improve access to obesity treatment for people living with overweight or obesity in India,” Jay Thyagarajan, Senior Vice President, Region APAC, Novo Nordisk, said.

Wegovy, launched in India in June 2025, is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management and reduction in the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in individuals with overweight or obesity.  In clinical trials, one in three participants on Wegovy experienced weight loss of over 20%. Poviztra is a second brand of Wegovy. As part of the agreement, Emcure Pharma will be the exclusive distributor responsible for the commercialisation and marketing of Poviztra semaglutide injection 2.4 mg in India.

 “We are thrilled to partner with Novo Nordisk India to bring Poviztra to India and are proud to be the first Indian pharmaceutical company to bring the world’s most widely used and trusted GLP-1-based weight loss molecule to the Indian market. We believe in the potential of semaglutide. With our strong understanding of the country’s diverse geographical landscape and established marketing capabilities, we are confident about making this molecule available to patients who need it the most,” Satish Mehta, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Emcure Pharma, said.