What is Awiqli, and why is its launch in India significant given the country's diabetes burden?

Awiqli is Novo Nordisk's once-weekly basal insulin injection—described as the world's first approved weekly basal insulin for clinical use—and is indicated for treating both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in adults. Its launch in India is significant because the country has over 101 million people living with diabetes and 136 million with prediabetes, and insulin initiation is delayed by 7–9 years on average due to fear of injections, pain, and cost concerns; Novo Nordisk states that Awiqli aims to reduce these psychological and physical barriers by cutting annual injections from 365 to just 52.

How does Awiqli differ from existing basal insulins in India, and who are its main competitors in the local market?

Unlike daily basal insulins taken once every 24 hours, Awiqli is designed to provide continuous background insulin support for a full week, reducing injection frequency dramatically. In India, it will compete with Sanofi’s Lantus and lower-cost insulin glargine products from domestic companies including Biocon, Eris Lifesciences, and Lupin.

Novo Nordisk Launches Weekly Insulin Awiqli in India as Diabetes Burden Rises

Jul 8, 2026

Novo Nordisk launched its once-weekly basal insulin Awiqli in India to treat type 1 and 2 diabetes. The product reduces injection frequency to 52 times yearly, competing in a market projected to reach $916.4 million by 2034.

reuters

2026-02-25

Novo Nordisk Taps Start-Up for New Oral Weight-Loss Drugs

2026-04-13

Wegovy-maker Novo Nordisk partners with OpenAI to speed drug development

2026-04-23

Novo Nordisk's Oral GLP-1 Drug Meets Primary Goal in Late-Stage Diabetes Study

2026-05-05

Novo Nordisk's first-quarter profit beats forecasts

2026-05-26

Global Firms Bring More Work In-House at India Hubs on AI Boost