Abbott Partners with Novo Nordisk to Launch Semaglutide Second Brand, Extensior, in India

Abbott and Novo Nordisk India Launch Extensior, a Semaglutide Therapy in India

Abbott, a leading global healthcare company, has partnered with Novo Nordisk India to launch Extensior, a brand of semaglutide, a GLP-1 therapy, in India. The partnership aims to expand access to the therapy, which is approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise for adults with Type 2 diabetes.

Extensior will be commercialized by Abbott in India, while Novo Nordisk will supply the molecule, globally known as Ozempic. Semaglutide has demonstrated its safety and efficacy through more than 44 clinical trials and over 10 real-world studies, with over 49 million patient-years of use globally across semaglutide products.

Extensior will be available in the FlexTouch pen device in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg dose strengths. The price of Extensior in India has not been disclosed, but sources indicate it will be cheaper than the current monthly cost of Ozempic, which ranges from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per month.

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The launch of Extensior is timely, given India's growing diabetes prevalence. The country is expected to have 150 million people with diabetes by 2050, straining the healthcare system. India spends over $9.8 billion annually on diabetes-related care, a figure projected to grow sharply as complications rise. Additionally, 43% of people with diabetes remain undiagnosed, limiting opportunities for timely intervention.

Key Statistics:

• 101 million Indians are currently living with diabetes
• 136 million Indians are classified as pre-diabetic
• 77% of people with diabetes in India are not under glycaemic control
• 254 million Indians live with generalised obesity
• 70% of people with diabetes also have overweight or obesity, raising mortality risk up to sevenfold