From daily injection to just once a week, Novo Nordisk sets a new standard of convenience in diabetes care

* First and only once-weekly basal insulin — a global innovation in diabetes therapy1

* Reduces injection burden significantly, from 7 injections per week to just 1; expected to ease injection barrier, especially in India where insulin is delayed by ~7-9 years

* Backed by a robust clinical trial program, including Indian population, which showed superior HbA1c reduction, better time in range vs. currently available insulins, without compromising on safety

* Delivered via Novo Nordisk’s FlexTouch® device, known for ease and precision globally

* Reinforces Novo Nordisk’s 100+ years of commitment to advancing diabetes care

9 July 2026, New Delhi: Novo Nordisk India today announced the launch of Awiqli® (insulin icodec) in India — the world’s first once-weekly basal insulin, for adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Awiqli® is set to fundamentally transform the insulin regimen for people with diabetes - from a once-daily routine to a once-weekly injection, thereby reducing the annual injection burden from 365 to just 52. This is not just an incremental update — it is a fundamental reimagination of how insulin fits into people’s lives.

In the ONWARDS-1 clinical programme, Awiqli® achieved superior HbA1c reduction and time in range compared with once-daily glargine U100. More people with type 2 diabetes reached an HbA1c below 7% without hypoglycaemia. Time in Range — an increasingly important complement to HbA1c — was also significantly increased with Awiqli®, giving patients better control through the day.2

Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director, Novo Nordisk India, said: “The launch of Awiqli® is a defining moment for diabetes care in India. For more than a century, Novo Nordisk has pursued one ambition: to make insulin therapy simpler, safer and more accessible for patients. Once-weekly dosing has long been an aspiration in our field. Today, it is a reality for India. We believe Awiqli® will reduce the psychological and physical barriers to insulin initiation — and ultimately help more people achieve better control and a better quality of life.”

Dr SK Wangnoo, Senior Consultant Endocrinologist and Diabetologist, Apollo Centre for Obesity, Diabetes & Endocrinology (ACODE), Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi said: “Insulin remains the cornerstone of diabetes management for many patients, yet delayed initiation and non-adherence continue to undermine outcomes in clinical practice. Innovations that meaningfully simplify the treatment experience have the potential to change patient behaviour. A once-weekly basal insulin could reduce the apprehension around starting insulin and help clinicians have more productive conversations about timely treatment.”

India’s Diabetes Landscape: An Urgent Call for Solutions

India is at the epicentre of the global diabetes epidemic. The scale of the problem — and the barriers to managing it — make Awiqli®’s arrival particularly timely.

* Over 101 million people in India live with diabetes - one of the highest burdens globally.3

* An additional 136 million have prediabetes - representing a massive population at risk.3

* The NFHS-6 (2023-24) survey confirms a sharp rise in blood sugar levels across both urban and rural India5:

– 20.9% of men aged 15+ have high blood sugar or are on diabetes medication - up from 15.6% during NFHS-5 (2019-21)

– 17.8% of women aged 15+ have high blood sugar or are on medication - up from 13.5% during NFHS-5 (2019-21)

* Insulin initiation in India is delayed by 7–9 years on average, driven by fear of injections, anticipation of pain, and cost concerns.³

The barriers to insulin therapy in India span both patient and physician perspectives:

* Patient-side: fear of injections, anticipated pain, cost sensitivity, treatment complexity

* Physician-side: risk of adverse effects (hypoglycaemia, weight gain), complex titration regimens, and concerns about patient adherence

As type 2 diabetes progresses, insulin therapy becomes clinically necessary — yet the perceived burden of daily injections creates resistance. Awiqli® directly addresses this resistance. With once-weekly dosing, robust clinical evidence, and the convenience of Novo Nordisk’s FlexTouch’s® device, Awiqli® has the potential to change the conversation around insulin — from one of avoidance to one of confidence.

About Awiqli®

Awiqli® (insulin icodec) injection 700 units/mL is a prescription medicine and the first and only once-weekly basal insulin approved for adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus.3,4 Designed as an alternative to daily basal insulin, its approval is supported by the ONWARDS clinical programme6-11 — a series of six phase 3a trials across diverse adult populations living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Awiqli® is administered once weekly on the same day each week, using the Awiqli® FlexTouch® pen.¹ Awiqli® is currently approved in the US, entire EU, and 13 additional countries.

About the ONWARDS Clinical Programme

The ONWARDS programme comprises six phase 3a global clinical trials, including a trial with real-world elements, involving more than 4,000 adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, including Indian patients.5 All six trials met their primary endpoints.6-11 

About Novo Nordisk India Pvt. Ltd.

Novo Nordisk India was established in 1994 with its headquarters in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The company serves as the India affiliate of Novo Nordisk A/S- a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. 

With a heritage of more than 100 years in diabetes care, our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases — from diabetes and obesity to rare blood and endocrine disorders — by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. We are committed to long-term, responsible business practices that deliver financial, social and environmental value.

 Novo Nordisk employs about 67,900 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries.