India approves Novo Nordisk's obesity drug Wegovy for fatty liver disease

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.

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.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation approved Wegovy's 2.4 mg semaglutide injection for the treatment of MASH, Novo Nordisk said.