India launches once-weekly basal insulin Awiqli

India has become the seventh country globally to commercially launch a once-weekly basal insulin, a significant development in diabetes treatment for a nation grappling with a massive disease burden. The therapy, named Awiqli (insulin icodec) and developed by Novo Nordisk, was introduced on Thursday, July 9, 2026, in New Delhi. It replaces the need for daily basal insulin injections for adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, reducing the annual injection count from 365 to approximately 52.

The launch addresses a critical challenge in India's healthcare landscape, where over 101 million people live with diabetes and another 136 million are estimated to have prediabetes. Company officials and health experts note that fear of daily injections, treatment fatigue, and social stigma often cause patients to delay starting insulin therapy by seven to nine years. By simplifying the regimen, Awiqli aims to lower these psychological and practical barriers, potentially improving long-term treatment adherence.

Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk India, stated the innovation seeks to make insulin therapy less intimidating. He emphasized that reducing injections helps overcome...