Ozempic Launched in India as Novo Targets Expanding Diabetes Market. Novo Nordisk launched Ozempic in India, pricing the lowest 0.25 mg dose at about $24 a week as it moved to tap into the country’s fast-growing diabetes and obesity market. The drug was rolled out in pen form in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg doses, with monthly prices ranging from 8,800 to 11,175 rupees, each pen covering four weekly injections. Analysts said the pricing was expected to become a benchmark for generic versions likely to enter the market next quarter at steep discounts. India, home to the world’s second-largest population of type 2 diabetes patients, was seen as a key battleground for metabolic drugs as the sector was forecast to reach $150 billion annually by the end of the decade. Originally approved in the United States in 2017, Ozempic became a global bestseller and was widely used off-label for weight loss, in addition to treating diabetes. Medical experts stressed that Ozempic in India could only be prescribed by specialists and was not intended for cosmetic weight-loss use. Novo highlighted that the drug also supported weight reduction and reduced cardiovascular and kidney risks in people with diabetes. The launch came as Novo faced rising competition from Eli Lilly and prepared for cheaper domestic alternatives ahead of semaglutide’s patent expiry in 2026.