July 17 (Reuters) – Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk said on Friday that India’s drug regulator has approved its obesity drug Wegovy for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a serious form of fatty liver disease.
Here are a few details:
• The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation approved Wegovy’s 2.4 mg semaglutide injection for the treatment of MASH, Novo Nordisk said.
• MASH is caused by a buildup of fat in the liver that can lead to inflammation and liver damage. The condition is part of a broader spectrum of fatty liver disease and can progress to more severe liver complications if left untreated.
• Novo Nordisk said about two in three people in India have fatty liver disease, highlighting the country’s large potential patient population.
• It is a silent disease, and people often do not have symptoms until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage, the company added.
• Wegovy, Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster obesity medicine, contains the active ingredient semaglutide and is already approved in multiple markets, including India, for chronic weight management.
• Novo has been vying for a share of India’s fast-growing obesity-drug market against Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and lower-cost generic semaglutide products launched by local drugmakers such as Dr Reddy’s and Sun Pharma.
• The company sold about 76,000 units of Wegovy in India in the first six months of 2026, according to data from market researcher Pharmarack.
(Reporting by Rishika Sadam in Hyderabad; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
