Novo Nordisk launches Awiqli once-weekly insulin in India for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
PTC Web Desk: Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has introduced Awiqli, the world's first once-weekly basal insulin, in India for adults living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The launch is expected to make diabetes management easier by reducing the number of insulin injections from 365 a year to just 52.
Basal insulin is used to keep blood sugar levels under control throughout the day and night. Until now, most patients requiring basal insulin had to take an injection every day. With Awiqli, the same treatment can now be administered just once every week through the company's FlexTouch pen device.
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Novo Nordisk has priced the 700-unit pack of Awiqli at Rs 2,611, translating to around Rs 3.73 per unit. According to the company, this is around 30 to 40 per cent lower than the cost of many daily basal insulin options currently available in the market. A patient requiring about 10 units of insulin daily would need 70 units of Awiqli each week, costing roughly Rs 261.
Doctors say the pricing could help make the new treatment more accessible.
India is home to nearly 10.1 crore people living with diabetes, while another 13.6 crore have prediabetes. The country also has more than nine lakh people with Type 1 diabetes, who depend heavily on insulin therapy. In addition, around one in every ten people with Type 2 diabetes eventually requires insulin to manage their condition effectively.
Experts believe one of the biggest challenges in diabetes care is that many patients postpone starting insulin because they fear daily injections. According to Novo Nordisk, insulin therapy is often delayed by seven to nine years for this reason. By reducing injection frequency to once a week, the company hopes more patients will begin treatment on time and continue it regularly.
Clinical trial results from the ONWARDS-1 programme showed that Awiqli achieved strong blood sugar control while maintaining a safety profile similar to once-daily insulin glargine. The studies also found that more patients with Type 2 diabetes were able to achieve recommended HbA1c targets without experiencing episodes of low blood sugar.
Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk India, said the launch marks an important step forward in diabetes care. He noted that fewer injections could reduce both the physical discomfort and the mental stress associated with insulin therapy.
According to an Indian Council of Medical Research-funded study, only about one in three people with diabetes in India receive appropriate treatment. Novo Nordisk estimates that around 60 lakh people in the country currently use insulin, although at least twice that number may actually require it.
- With inputs from agencies
