India has become one of the first global countries to approve Awiqli for clinical use—the world's first basal insulin administered only once a week. This drug offers a new treatment option for adults suffering from diabetes.
The Relevance of Diabetes in India
The launch of the drug comes at a critical time for India, which faces one of the highest rates of diabetes prevalence in the world. According to a Reuters report, over 101 million people in the country live with diabetes, and an estimated 136 million more have prediabetes.
How Awiqli Works
Novo Nordisk announced that Awiqli, which is commonly known as icodec insulin, simplifies insulin therapy. It reduces the need for injections from 365 per year to just 52. At the same time, it provides blood sugar control comparable to or better than existing daily basal insulins.
Awiqli is a long-acting basal insulin designed to provide stable background insulin support throughout the week. Unlike traditional basal insulins, which are administered every 24 hours, Awiqli is injected weekly on the same day using a pre-filled pen device. The injection is given under the skin of the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, and the dosage is adjusted according to the patient's blood glucose level.
Application and Composition of the Drug
People with type 1 diabetes need to use Awiqli together with short-acting insulin taken during meals. Patients with type 2 diabetes can use it alone or in combination with other diabetes medications, including rapid-acting insulin if necessary. The drug contains icodec insulin, which binds to the blood protein albumin. This allows it to remain in the body longer, extending its action for a full week and promoting the movement of glucose from the bloodstream into cells, thereby lowering blood sugar levels.
Market Prospects and Competition
Vikrant Shroff, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk India, noted that India is the seventh country to launch Awiqli. The company hopes that this treatment will eliminate the psychological and physical barriers preventing many patients from starting insulin therapy. Although the drug has already received approval in the US, the European Union, and several other countries, in India it will compete with existing daily basal insulins such as Lantus from Sanofi, as well as glargine insulin brands produced by local pharmaceutical companies, including Biocon, Eris Lifesciences, and Lupin.
The launch also coincides with the expansion of the Indian insulin market. According to IMARC, the market is projected to grow from $660.5 million in 2025 to $916.4 million by 2034. Growth is driven by the increasing incidence of diabetes linked to sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, and genetic factors. Novo Nordisk believes that the introduction of once-weekly insulin can ease treatment for millions of patients, improving adherence to treatment and long-term diabetes management.