India gets world's first once-a-week insulin: All about Novo Nordisk's Awiqli
India has become one of the first countries in the world to introduce Awiqli, the world's first once-a-week basal insulin approved for clinical use, offering a new treatment option for adults living with diabetes.The launch comes at a crucial time for India, which has one of the world's highest diabetes burdens, as per a report by Reuters.
More than 101 million people in the country are living with diabetes, while another 136 million are estimated to have prediabetes.Novo Nordisk said Awiqli, known generically as insulin icodec, simplifies insulin therapy by reducing the number of injections from 365 a year to just 52, while providing blood sugar control comparable to or better than existing daily basal insulin treatments.Awiqli is a long-acting basal insulin designed to provide steady background insulin support throughout the week.
Unlike conventional basal insulin, which is injected once every 24 hours, Awiqli is administered once a week on the same day using a pre-filled pen device.The injection is given under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, with the dosage adjusted according to the patient's blood glucose levels.For people with Type 1 diabetes, Awiqli must be used alongside short-acting insulin taken at mealtimes.
Those with Type 2 diabetes can use it either on its own or in combination with other diabetes medicines, including rapid-acting insulin where required.The medicine contains insulin icodec, which binds to the blood protein albumin. This allows it to remain in the body for longer, extending its action over an entire week while helping glucose move from the bloodstream into cells and lowering blood sugar levels.Novo Nordisk India Managing Director Vikrant Shrotriya said India is the seventh country to launch Awiqli and the company hopes the treatment will remove psychological and physical barriers that prevent many patients from starting insulin therapy.The drug has already received approval in the United States, the European Union and several other countries.
In India, it is expected to compete with existing daily basal insulin products such as Sanofi's Lantus as well as insulin glargine brands sold by domestic drugmakers including Biocon, Eris Lifesciences and Lupin.The launch also comes as India's insulin market continues to expand. According to IMARC, the market is projected to grow from $660.5 million in 2025 to $916.4 million by 2034, driven by rising diabetes cases linked to sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets and genetic factors.
Novo Nordisk believes the arrival of a once-weekly insulin could make treatment easier for millions of patients while improving adherence and long-term diabetes management.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.