India launches Novo Nordisk’s once‑weekly insulin Awiqli

Novo Nordisk has introduced Awiqli (insulin icodec), the world’s first once‑weekly basal insulin, in India for adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. The weekly formulation cuts the annual injection count from 365 to 52 and is delivered via the company’s FlexTouch pen.

The drug is priced at INR 2,611 for a 700‑unit pen, roughly INR 261 per week, which Novo says is 30‑40% cheaper than existing daily basal insulins. Clinical data from the ONWARDS‑1 programme showed superior HbA1c reduction and better time‑in‑range without increased hypoglycaemia.

India faces a massive diabetes burden, with more than 101 million individuals living with diabetes and another 136 million classified as pre‑diabetic. Insulin initiation is often delayed by 7–9 years due to fear of daily injections. Novo Nordisk’s Managing Director for India, Vikrant Shrotriya, called the launch “a defining moment for diabetes care in India,” noting that weekly dosing could lower psychological and physical barriers to treatment.

Awiqli has already received regulatory approval in the United States, the European Union and several other countries before its Indian rollout, marking a significant step in simplifying insulin therapy for a large patient population.