New Delhi, June 25 -- Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk launched its weight-loss drug Wegovy in India, which has the third highest obese population in the world, the company announced on Tuesday. The much-awaited drug is being made available in five dosing strengths with an easy-to-use pen device which does away the use of syringes, and therefore, can be self-administered at home, the company added. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, is the active ingredient in both Wegovy and Novo Nordisk's other drug Ozempic. While Wegovy is indicated for weight management, Ozempic in many countries across the world is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Ozempic is currently not available in India. "Obesity is not just a personal health concern-it is a chronic disease and a national epidemic that India cannot afford to ignore. Recognising this, we are proud to announce that we are bringing Wegovy to Indians as a transformative and evidence-based therapeutic solution with the convenience of a world-class, state-of-the-art pen device," Vikrant Shrotriya, managing director, Novo Nordisk India, said at the launch. "Additionally, we have an India-specific price with the benefit of same price for the first three dosing strengths." India has the third highest number of people living with overweight and obesity, behind the US and China. Alarmingly, obesity is associated with over 200 diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, certain types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes. According to the clinical trials, the drug is shown to have 20% or more weight reduction in at least one in three individuals when used along with lifestyle interventions such as reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. It also showed a 20% reduction in the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including stroke, heart attack, and cardiovascular disease-related deaths, when used on top of standard care in people with established cardiovascular disease and obesity....