Key facts
- Novo Nordisk's Awiqli is world's first once-a-week insulin
- India among first countries to receive it
- Replaces daily insulin injections with a single weekly dose
- India has over 100 million diabetic patients
India has received the world's first once-a-week insulin, Novo Nordisk's Awiqli, marking a significant milestone in diabetes treatment for a country that carries one of the largest diabetic populations on the planet. The Times of India reported the arrival of the drug, which allows patients to replace daily insulin injections with a single weekly dose — a development that clinicians say could transform how millions of Indians manage the condition.
Awiqli, developed by Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, has been in development for years and represents a major leap in insulin delivery technology. The convenience of weekly dosing is expected to dramatically improve medication adherence, which is a persistent challenge with daily injectable regimens, particularly among working-age patients and those in rural areas with limited healthcare access.
India's diabetes burden is staggering — estimates put the number of diabetic patients in the country well above 100 million, with a significant proportion requiring insulin therapy. The arrival of a weekly formulation is expected to generate strong clinical and commercial interest, though pricing and insurance coverage will be key determinants of how widely Awiqli is adopted across different income groups.
Healthcare providers and patient groups have broadly welcomed the news. The drug's approval and availability marks another instance of India receiving a globally significant pharmaceutical innovation — and signals the country's growing importance as a launch market for world-first therapies.