MUMBAI, Dec. 12 -- Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk launched its blockbuster diabetes drug Ozempic in India on Friday, with a headline starting price of Rs.2,200 per week. For a four-week course, the entry 0.25 mg dose will be priced at Rs.8,800, positioning the drug squarely in the premium bracket for India's fast-growing obesity and metabolic-health market.

The launch comes close on the heels of Wegovy, Novo's dedicated weight-loss injection, which entered the market in June.

India's nascent anti-obesity drug market is heating up. Eli Lilly's Mounjaro has taken an early lead since its March launch, becoming a top-selling drug by October. Novo faces additional competitive pressure next year, as semaglutide-the compound behind Ozempic and ...