Abbott has announced a strategic collaboration with Novo Nordisk India to commercialize Extensior® for people living with type 2 diabetes, marking a significant step toward expanding access to advanced diabetes treatment across India. The partnership combines Novo Nordisk’s scientific leadership in GLP-1 therapies with Abbott’s strong distribution network, enabling broader reach beyond regions currently served by Novo Nordisk.
Extensior® is a second brand of Ozempic, the world’s most prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA). Approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise for adults with type 2 diabetes, Extensior® contains semaglutide, a molecule that has demonstrated strong efficacy in improving glycaemic control and delivering additional health benefits.
Semaglutide has shown powerful HbA1c reduction, compelling weight-loss outcomes, and proven risk reduction of cardiovascular and kidney events in people with type 2 diabetes. Its safety and effectiveness are backed by more than 44 clinical trials and over 10 real-world studies spanning type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, liver conditions, and kidney disease. Globally, semaglutide has been on the market for nearly a decade and has accumulated more than 49 million patient-years of use across all semaglutide products, reinforcing its well-established safety profile.
The collaboration comes at a critical time for India, where diabetes continues to pose a growing public health challenge. More than 100 million individuals in the country are currently living with diabetes, and this number is projected to rise to over 150 million by 2050, reflecting a 50% increase. Factors such as rapid urbanisation, aging populations, increasing obesity, and lifestyle changes are contributing to the surge in cases.
Cardiovascular and kidney complications account for a significant portion of the long-term risks faced by people with type 2 diabetes. However, India faces a serious detection gap, with 43% of individuals with diabetes remaining undiagnosed, limiting opportunities for early treatment and risk reduction. The economic burden is also mounting, with national diabetes-related expenditure already exceeding USD 9.8 billion, or more than INR 88,000 crore.