New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANI): Novo Nordisk India on Thursday announced the launch of Awiqli (insulin icodec), the world’s first once-weekly basal insulin for adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
The new therapy reduces insulin injections from once daily to once weekly, lowering the number of annual injections from 365 to 52.
The company described the launch as a fundamental reimagining of how insulin therapy fits into patients’ lives rather than an incremental improvement.
In the global ONWARDS-1 clinical program, Awiqli demonstrated superior HbA1c reduction and increased Time in Range compared with once-daily insulin glargine U100. More people with Type 2 diabetes achieved an HbA1c level below 7% without hypoglycemia, while the improvement in Time in Range provided better glucose control throughout the day.
Vikrant Shrotriya, managing director of Novo Nordisk India, said the launch of Awiqli marks a defining moment for diabetes care in India.
He said Novo Nordisk has spent more than a century working to make insulin therapy simpler, safer, and more accessible, adding that once-weekly dosing has long been an aspiration for the diabetes care community.
According to Shrotriya, Awiqli has the potential to reduce the psychological and physical barriers associated with insulin initiation while helping more people achieve better diabetes control and an improved quality of life.
Dr. S.K. Wangnoo, senior consultant endocrinologist and diabetologist at the Apollo Centre for Obesity, Diabetes & Endocrinology (ACODE) at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi, said insulin remains the cornerstone of diabetes management for many patients, but delayed initiation and poor adherence continue to affect treatment outcomes.
He said innovations that simplify treatment could encourage patients to begin insulin therapy earlier and enable more productive discussions between physicians and patients about timely diabetes management.
The launch comes as India continues to face one of the world’s largest diabetes burdens.
More than 101 million people in India are living with diabetes, while another 136 million have prediabetes, placing them at high risk of developing the disease.
The National Family Health Survey-6 (2023-24) also reported a sharp rise in elevated blood sugar levels across both urban and rural India.
According to the survey, 20.9% of men age 15 and older have high blood sugar levels or are taking diabetes medication, up from 15.6% in the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21). Among women age 15 and older, the figure rose to 17.8% from 13.5%.
Despite the growing prevalence of diabetes, insulin therapy in India is typically initiated seven to nine years later than clinically recommended.
Factors contributing to the delay include fear of injections, anticipated pain, treatment complexity, and cost concerns among patients. Physicians also face challenges related to the risk of hypoglycemia, weight gain, complex dose titration, and concerns about patient adherence.
As Type 2 diabetes progresses, insulin therapy often becomes medically necessary. However, the burden of daily injections frequently discourages patients from starting treatment.
Novo Nordisk said Awiqli addresses these concerns through its once-weekly dosing schedule, strong clinical evidence, and delivery via the FlexTouch device, with the potential to transform patients’ perceptions of insulin therapy from reluctance to confidence. (ANI)
About The Author
