Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy gets India nod for treatment of fatty liver disease

Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk said on Friday that India’s drug regulator has approved its obesity drug Wegovy for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a serious form of fatty liver disease.

The company said the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has approved a new indication for Wegovy (semaglutide injection 2.4 mg) for the treatment of MASH in India.

According to Novo Nordisk India, the approval makes Wegovy the first and only GLP-1 RA to be approved both globally and in India for the treatment of noncirrhotic Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) in adults with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis, along with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Novo Nordisk said MASH is caused by a buildup of fat in the liver that can lead to inflammation and liver damage. The condition is part of a broader spectrum of fatty liver disease and can progress to more severe liver complications if left untreated.

The company said about two in three people in India have fatty liver disease, highlighting the country’s large potential patient population. It added that the condition is a silent disease and people often do not have symptoms until it has progressed to an advanced stage.

Wegovy, Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster obesity medicine, contains the active ingredient semaglutide and is already approved in multiple markets, including India, for chronic weight management.

Novo Nordisk has been competing for a share of India’s fast-growing obesity drug market against Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and lower-cost generic semaglutide products launched by local drugmakers such as Dr Reddy’s and Sun Pharma.

According to data from market researcher Pharmarack, the company sold about 76,000 units of Wegovy in India during the first six months of 2026.