Shares of Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd soared 7% on Monday, 10 November, after the company announced that they have formed a strategic alliance with Novo Nordisk India to develop Poviztra®, the second brand of Wegovy® (semaglutide injectable 2.4 mg), as part of its efforts to increase access to its globally recognised anti-obesity medicine.

Emcure becomes the first Indian pharmaceutical business to have exclusive distribution and commercialisation rights for semaglutide for chronic weight management in India as a result of the transaction.

Under the agreement, Emcure will handle the commercialisation, marketing, and distribution of Poviztra®, expanding Novo Nordisk’s presence to reach additional pharmacies and patients, particularly in smaller towns and regions beyond the multinational’s current reach.

Poviztra® will be a second brand of Wegovy®, which Novo Nordisk launched in India in June 2025.  Both formulations contain semaglutide 2.4 mg, a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist that controls appetite and calorie intake, resulting in considerable and sustained weight loss.

In global clinical studies conducted under Novo Nordisk’s STEP and SELECT programmes, one in every three people on semaglutide lost more than 20% of their weight. The chemical has also been shown to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events among overweight and obese adults.

Poviztra®’s launch intends to offer continuous access and increased availability of semaglutide-based therapy in India, where medical treatment of obesity is still in its early stages.

Novo Nordisk’s Senior Vice President, Region APAC, Jay Thyagarajan, said the agreement demonstrates the company’s commitment to extending obesity care in India.

“Obesity is a serious chronic disease affecting millions of people across India. Recognising this challenge, we launched Wegovy® earlier this year. Now, by joining hands with Emcure Pharma, we can broaden access to safe, effective, and high-quality obesity treatment,” he said.

Thyagarajan went on to say that the cooperation combines Novo Nordisk’s scientific leadership in GLP-1 medicines with Emcure’s strong marketing and distribution network to expand treatment access across India.

Emcure Pharmaceuticals’ CEO and Managing Director, Satish Mehta, stated that the business is thrilled to introduce the world’s most trusted GLP-1-based weight-loss chemical to Indian patients.

“With our deep understanding of India’s diverse geography and strong presence across therapeutic segments, we are confident of making Poviztra® accessible to patients who need it most,” Mehta said.

Emcure’s strong field force and established retail connections are intended to help expand access outside metropolitan regions, reaching Tier II and Tier III cities where obesity management is currently underserved.

At 3:02 pm, the shares of Emcure Pharma were trading 5.10% higher at Rs 1,431.90 on NSE.

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