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Abbott’s drug will be marketed under the brand name Extensior and is indicated for people living with type 2 diabetes.
Semaglutide, sold by Novo Nordisk under brands such as Ozempic and Wegovy, goes off patent on March 21 in India. A raft of Indian generic drug makers has already lined up the launch of their generic semaglutide drugs immediately after the patent expiry, prompting the company to brace up for the upcoming competition in the GLP-1 market.
Extensior will be introduced in India as part of Abbott’s expanding portfolio of advanced diabetes solutions and is expected to be available for Indian patients soon, Abbott said in a statement.
“India is facing one of the world’s fastest-growing diabetes burdens, and addressing this challenge requires continuous innovation and strong partnerships,” said Kartik Rajendran, managing director, Abbott India.
“The launch of Extensior builds on Abbott’s long-standing focus on holistic diabetes management—from medicines to diagnostics, and from continuous glucose monitoring to diabetes-specific nutrition,” he added.
“Our partnership with Abbott will help make this innovative molecule accessible to a greater number of people living with type 2 diabetes in India,” said Vikrant Shrotriya, managing director, Novo Nordisk India.More than 100 million individuals in India live with diabetes and this is projected to surge 50% to more than 150 million by 2050 driven by rapid urbanisation, aging populations, increasing obesity and lifestyle changes.
Cardiovascular and kidney issues now account for much of the long-term risk faced by people living with type 2 diabetes. In India, about 43% of individuals with diabetes remain undiagnosed, limiting opportunities for early intervention.
Extensior will be available in the FlexTouch Pen—a once-weekly pen device that provides precise dosing in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg dose strengths.
