ENहिन्दी soon
Home/India/Blog/Ozempic for type 2 diabetes in India: what do the trials show?
INIndia Diabetes

Ozempic for type 2 diabetes in India: what do the trials show?

Ozempic, Rybelsus, Mounjaro, Trulicity and liraglutide in India: approvals, guidelines, HbA1c results beside side effects, and MRPs.

GLP Guidebook teamPublished 5 Oct 202613 min read40 sourcesWritten from published sources

Written for India. Reading from the US? US versionComing soon

The short answer

Ozempic (semaglutide) is sold in India for type 2 diabetes, alongside Rybelsus, Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Trulicity and liraglutide. In the Ozempic label's 30-week trial, HbA1c fell 1.4 to 1.6 points, against 0.1 on a dummy injection. Across the label's two placebo trials, about 1 in 5 people on 1 mg felt sick (nausea).

Key takeaways

  • Ozempic (semaglutide) was launched in India in December 2025 for type 2 diabetes, in 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg strengths; Wegovy is the weight brand.1,2
  • In the Ozempic label's 30-week trial, HbA1c fell 1.4 to 1.6 points on Ozempic, against 0.1 on a dummy injection. Across the label's two placebo trials, 15.8% to 20.3% felt sick, against 6.1%.21
  • India's RSSDI 2022 recommendations start metformin at diagnosis, then list GLP‑1 medicines, tablets and injections, among later add-ons, and for heart, kidney or weight problems.18
  • A CDSCO expert committee recommended Ozempic's heart and kidney uses in July 2025, but we found no public Indian label showing the final wording.3
  • At printed MRP, one Ozempic pen of four 1 mg doses costs ₹9,100, so a year of 52 weekly doses costs ₹1,18,300.2
Before you go further
  • GLP‑1 medicines are prescription-only in India. A government statement on 1 Apr 2026 said only endocrinologists, internal-medicine specialists and cardiologists can prescribe them.33 CDSCO expert-committee minutes attach a similar condition to some approvals (endocrinologist or internal-medicine specialist), but we found no rule covering every brand.5,34
  • This post reports labels, trials and guidelines. It is not a plan for starting or changing your diabetes medicines.
  • Every benefit below comes with side effects. See Guide 5, Side effects and risks.
  • In July 2026, Dr Reddy's and Torrent recalled some batches of their generic semaglutide brands, Obeda and Semalix. USV recalled some Usema batches, according to industry sources. Check your pack's batch with your pharmacist.37
  • Trial results are averages. Nobody can promise your own HbA1c will fall by the same amount.
On this page
  1. Which GLP-1 medicines are approved for type 2 diabetes in India?
  2. How do Ozempic and similar medicines lower blood sugar?
  3. Where do GLP-1 medicines sit in diabetes guidelines?
  4. How much did HbA1c fall in the main trials?
  5. What do the heart and kidney trials show?
  6. Is there data from Indian patients?
  7. Can they be taken with metformin, insulin or a sulfonylurea?
  8. What do they cost in India?
  9. Questions people ask
  10. How we researched this
  11. Sources

Which GLP-1 medicines are approved for type 2 diabetes in India?

Ozempic, Rybelsus, Mounjaro, Yurpeak, Trulicity, Victoza, Lirafit and many generic semaglutide brands are sold in India for type 2 diabetes. Each needs a prescription.1,2,4,6,8,9,10,11

About 101 million people in India had diabetes in 2021, roughly 1 in 9 adults.16 Worldwide, more than 95% of people with diabetes have type 2, where the body stops using insulin properly.40 Here is what is on sale for it, by medicine:

  • Semaglutide, weekly injection. Novo Nordisk launched Ozempic in India in December 2025 for type 2 diabetes, in 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg strengths.1 In India, Ozempic is the diabetes brand and Wegovy the weight brand.2 See Is Ozempic available in India?
  • Semaglutide, daily tablet. CDSCO's expert committee notes that Rybelsus 3, 7 and 14 mg tablets have been approved in India since July 2020.4 Our post on Ozempic tablets and Rybelsus explains the difference.
  • Tirzepatide, weekly injection. Eli Lilly launched Mounjaro in March 2025 for diabetes and obesity.6 Cipla sells the same medicine as Yurpeak, for type 2 diabetes and weight.8
  • Dulaglutide, weekly injection. Lilly launched Trulicity in India in 2016 for adults with type 2 diabetes.9
  • Liraglutide, daily injection. India's drug regulator approved Victoza in January 2010 for adults with type 2 diabetes.10 Glenmark launched Lirafit, a lower-cost copy (biosimilar), in January 2024.11 More in Liraglutide in India.
  • Generic semaglutide. At least 17 generic versions arrived after the patent expired in March 2026.2 Approvals differ by brand. Dr Reddy's pen is for diabetes. Alkem says its approval covers both diabetes and weight, and a law-firm report says the same of Zydus's.12,13 See Ozempic in India after the patent expiry.
India note: US and EU labels used. We could not find the Indian prescribing information for these brands online. Trial figures below come from the US labels, and side-effect bands from the EU label, named each time.21,22 The US label lets Ozempic go up to 2 mg.21 In India it is sold up to 1 mg.1

How do Ozempic and similar medicines lower blood sugar?

They make the pancreas release more insulin and less glucagon, but mainly when blood sugar is high. They also slow the stomach a little after meals.21

Insulin moves sugar out of the blood. Glucagon does the opposite, telling the liver to release sugar. The Ozempic label says semaglutide raises insulin and lowers glucagon "in a glucose-dependent manner".21 So the push is strongest when sugar is high.21 Lows become more likely when they are taken with insulin or a sulfonylurea (see below).22

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) works on two hormone receptors, GIP and GLP‑1, in the same glucose-dependent way.24 Our guide on what GLP‑1 medicines do explains the rest, including appetite.

The Ozempic label starts at 0.25 mg a week for 4 weeks, then 0.5 mg. It goes to 1 mg only if more sugar control is needed.21 Your doctor sets the dose. See Ozempic dose steps, explained.

Where do GLP-1 medicines sit in diabetes guidelines?

India's RSSDI guidance starts with metformin, then lists GLP‑1 tablets and injections among add-ons. The US ADA now puts them first for people with heart or kidney disease.18,19

India: RSSDI-ESI 2020 and RSSDI 2022

RSSDI is the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India. Its 2022 recommendations say metformin should start at diagnosis, with diet and activity changes.18 If targets aren't met, the tablet add-on list includes GLP‑1 tablets, sulfonylureas and two other tablet types (SGLT2 and DPP‑4 inhibitors).18

For GLP‑1 injections, such as Ozempic, RSSDI 2022 says:18

  • Heart: injections "with proven CV benefits" (heart benefits) "should be considered to reduce the risk".18
  • High sugar: they are "viable second-line or third-line options" when sugar stays high.18
  • Obesity: "GLP‑1 analogs and SGLT2 inhibitors should be preferred as add-ons to metformin" in people with obesity.18
  • Insulin: adding a GLP‑1 injection is one way to step up insulin treatment. Basal insulin may also be started together with one.18

For heart disease, heart failure, kidney disease or weight loss, the tablet section says to consider SGLT2 inhibitors or GLP‑1 tablets.18 RSSDI notes that cost and stomach side effects hold back GLP‑1 use.18

RSSDI 2022 was written before Mounjaro reached India. It calls tirzepatide "not yet available in India".18 We found no newer RSSDI or RSSDI-ESI type 2 diabetes recommendations. The joint RSSDI-ESI 2020 guideline sets an HbA1c target below 7% for most people.17 HbA1c is your average blood sugar over the last 2 to 3 months.20 What your HbA1c number means

US: ADA Standards of Care 2026

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) says metformin has "historically" been first-line, and is cheap and effective.19 But for some people it puts other medicines first, whatever their HbA1c:19

  • Heart and blood-vessel disease, or high risk of it: a GLP‑1 medicine and/or an SGLT2 inhibitor with proven heart benefit.19
  • Chronic kidney disease: an SGLT2 inhibitor or a GLP‑1 medicine with proven kidney benefit.19
  • Obesity with heart failure where the heart muscle is stiff (HFpEF): tirzepatide or a GLP‑1 medicine with proven benefit.19
  • When more sugar-lowering is needed: GLP‑1 treatment before insulin, unless sugar is very high.19

The ADA committee declares its industry ties. Of its 20 members, 2 declare ties to Novo Nordisk and 1 to Eli Lilly.20 Its target is also below 7% HbA1c for many adults.20

How much did HbA1c fall in the main trials?

In placebo-controlled trials, HbA1c fell about 1.2 to 1.8 points, against 0.1 to 0.3 on dummy treatment. Feeling sick was the commonest side effect.21,23,24

Each trial below gave one medicine alone, to people whose diabetes was not controlled by diet and exercise. Starting HbA1c was about 8%.21,23,24

Fall in HbA1c, and how many felt sick
HbA1c points (%) from about 8%; dummy treatment in brackets. US labels, checked 5 Oct 2026.
Ozempic: 30-week trial, 388 people (SUSTAIN‑1); nausea 15.8% and 20.3% vs 6.1%, pooled with an insulin trial. Rybelsus: 26 weeks, 703 people, 528 of them on the doses shown (PIONEER‑1); nausea 11% and 20% vs 6%, pooled with a second placebo trial. Mounjaro: 40 weeks, 478 people (SURPASS‑1); nausea 12% and 18% vs 4%, pooled with an insulin trial. The trials differ in people and length, so compare each bar with its own dummy figure, not with other bars.21,23,24

What that meant for targets. In the Ozempic trial, 70% to 73% reached an HbA1c below 7%, against 28% on the dummy.21 In the Mounjaro trial it was 78% to 85%, against 23%.24 Weight fell too. It dropped 3.8 to 4.7 kg on Ozempic vs 1.2 kg on the dummy. On Mounjaro it dropped 6.3 to 7.8 kg vs 1.0 kg.21,24

Head to head. SURPASS‑2 compared Mounjaro with Ozempic 1 mg in 1,879 people already on metformin, for 40 weeks.25 HbA1c fell 1.86 points on Ozempic and 2.01 to 2.30 on Mounjaro.25 Nausea was similar: 18% on Ozempic, 17% to 22% on Mounjaro.25 The trial was open-label (everyone knew their medicine) and Eli Lilly paid for it.25 More in Mounjaro vs Ozempic.

The stomach effects led some people to stop. In the Ozempic placebo trials, 3.1% to 3.8% stopped for stomach side effects, against 0.4% on the dummy.21

RisksThe risks, in brief
  • Stomach effects. Feeling sick and diarrhoea are very common on the EU Ozempic label (more than 1 in 10 people). They usually fade over time.22
  • Low blood sugar with a sulfonylurea or insulin. This is very common on the EU Ozempic label (more than 1 in 10).22
  • Pancreatitis. Uncommon on the EU Ozempic label (1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000). The sign is severe stomach pain, sometimes into the back, that won't go away.22
  • Gallstones. Common on the EU Ozempic label (1 in 10 to 1 in 100).22
  • Eyes. Diabetic eye disease worsened more often on Ozempic: 3.0% vs 1.8% over 2 years. In people who already had it, 8.2% vs 5.2%.21
  • Dehydration from vomiting or diarrhoea can injure the kidneys.21
  • Thyroid warning and pregnancy. Ruled out by the US label for anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) or MEN 2; tell your doctor if this applies. The Ozempic label says stop at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy.21
Full detail in Guide 5: Side effects and risks → Ozempic side effects →

What do the heart and kidney trials show?

Ozempic lowered heart events in one trial and serious kidney events in another. In India, a CDSCO committee backed both uses in 2025. We found no matching Indian step for Mounjaro.3,27,28

  • Heart: fewer heart events on Ozempic. In one trial (SUSTAIN‑6), 3,297 people with type 2 diabetes took Ozempic 0.5 or 1 mg, or a dummy, for 2 years. A heart attack, stroke or heart death happened to 6.6% on Ozempic and 8.9% on the dummy.27 Eye problems from diabetes were more common on Ozempic in the same trial.27 Novo Nordisk paid for it.27
  • Kidneys: fewer serious kidney problems on Ozempic. In another trial (FLOW), 3,533 people with diabetes and kidney disease took Ozempic 1 mg or a dummy for about 3.4 years. Kidney failure, a big fall in kidney function, or death from kidney or heart causes happened to 18.7% vs 23.2%.28 Novo Nordisk paid for it.28 See Are Ozempic and Mounjaro safe for your kidneys?
  • Mounjaro: no worse for the heart than Trulicity, but not better. In one trial (SURPASS‑CVOT), 13,299 people with diabetes and heart disease took Mounjaro or Trulicity for about 4 years. Heart events happened to 12.2% vs 13.1%, too small a gap to call Mounjaro better. Eli Lilly paid for it.29 See Is Mounjaro safe for people with heart disease?

Where India stands. In July 2025, CDSCO's expert committee recommended approving Ozempic's heart and kidney uses. It asked Novo Nordisk for an Indian follow-up study after approval.3 In November 2025 it recommended a heart use for Rybelsus.4 We found no public Indian label showing the final wording of either. The US labels carry heart uses for Ozempic, Rybelsus and Mounjaro, and a kidney use for Ozempic.21,23,24

Free toolQuestions for your diabetes doctor

Answer a few questions and get a printable visit sheet, including the diabetes medicines you take now. No sign-up.

Make my list

Is there data from Indian patients?

Some. Indian sites joined global trials, and Indian makers ran local trials for approval. A few Indian clinics have published their own records.3,12,26

Global trials with Indian sites. The SURPASS‑1 Mounjaro trial ran at centres in India, Japan, Mexico and the USA.26 CDSCO's committee says India was part of the global trials behind Ozempic's heart and kidney uses.3 It said the same of the tirzepatide trials in 2023.5

Indian trials for generics. Alkem says its approval followed Phase 3 trials run in India.12 Dr Reddy's semaglutide tablets were approved after an Indian Phase 3 trial in 288 patients.15

Indian clinic records. These looked back at patients' files. They had no dummy group, so they show what happened, not what the medicine caused.

  • Rybelsus tablets, Max hospital, Delhi. 351 patients started with a median HbA1c of 7.9%. After about 9 months, it had fallen 1.1 points in the 56 still followed. Just over half (52%) had stomach side effects, and 9.7% stopped, some because of the expense.30
  • Mounjaro, seven Lucknow clinics. 71 adults went from an HbA1c of 8.7% to 6.9% in 12 weeks. 59% had stomach side effects, and 22% stopped, often because of side effects or cost. Six authors declare speaker fees from Eli Lilly.31
  • Liraglutide, Medanta hospital, Gurgaon. 96 patients with diabetes and obesity started; 74 had 1-year data. HbA1c went from 8.9% to 7.4%, but rose again after 6 months in 30 of the 74. Of the 74, 43% had side effects, mostly nausea (19%) and diarrhoea (15%). 22 of the 96 stopped early, 10 of them because of side effects. The study had no funding.32

Can they be taken with metformin, insulin or a sulfonylurea?

Yes, and most trials tested them that way. With metformin or other tablets that aren't sulfonylureas, the EU Ozempic label rates low sugar as common (1 in 10 to 1 in 100). With insulin or a sulfonylurea it is very common (more than 1 in 10), and doctors often lower those doses.19,21,22

  • Metformin. Everyone in SURPASS‑2 was on metformin.25 The Ozempic label found no new safety signals in 959 people taking it with metformin, with or without a sulfonylurea.21 Can you take metformin and Ozempic together?
  • Insulin. In a 30-week Ozempic trial with basal insulin, HbA1c fell 1.3 to 1.7 points, vs 0.2 on the dummy.21 People starting at an HbA1c of 8% or less cut their insulin by 20% at the start, to avoid lows.21 The ADA says insulin doses should be reassessed when a GLP‑1 medicine is added.19
  • Sulfonylureas (glimepiride, gliclazide). The EU Ozempic label rates low sugar as very common (more than 1 in 10) with a sulfonylurea or insulin. It says a doctor may lower those doses before starting.22
  • DPP‑4 inhibitors ("gliptins" such as sitagliptin). The ADA says not to combine them with a GLP‑1 medicine, because sugar doesn't fall further.19

Our post on GLP‑1 medicines and low blood sugar gives the trial rates and the signs. The type 2 diabetes reading path covers HbA1c targets and hypos. GLP‑1 medicines with metformin or insulin

Get help now: call 112. Call if someone with low sugar becomes confused, very drowsy or can't be woken. The ADA counts a low that needs someone else's help as severe.20 Call too for severe stomach pain that won't go away, a possible sign of pancreatitis.22

What do they cost in India?

At printed MRP, 4 weeks of treatment costs from about ₹1,300 to ₹26,000. The figure depends on the medicine, the dose, and whether it is a brand or a generic.14,35

MRP is the maker's printed list price. Pharmacies may sell below it. We list medicines in the same order as above, not by price.

MedicineFormMRP
Ozempic (semaglutide), Novo NordiskWeekly pen, 4 doses₹5,660 (0.25 mg), ₹8,100 (0.5 mg), ₹9,100 (1 mg) a pen2,35
Rybelsus (semaglutide), Novo NordiskDaily tablet₹8,916 to ₹9,510 (3 mg) or ₹10,884 (14 mg) for 30 tablets35
Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Eli LillyWeekly KwikPen, 4 doses₹13,125 (2.5 mg) up to ₹25,781 (12.5 and 15 mg) a pen35
Yurpeak (tirzepatide), CiplaWeekly penNo figure published; Cipla says the same price as Mounjaro8
Trulicity (dulaglutide), Eli LillyWeekly single-dose pens₹11,338 for 4 doses (0.75 or 1.5 mg)35
Victoza and Lirafit (liraglutide)Daily pen, 18 mg₹4,991 (Victoza) and ₹2,086 (Lirafit) a pen; 2 pens last about a month at 1.2 mg a day35
Generic semaglutide, many makersWeekly pen or vialPens: ₹1,800 to ₹4,200 for 4 starting doses, ₹4,200 to ₹8,000 for 4 top doses. Vials separately, from ₹1,290 a month (Natco, lower strengths)2,12,14,38

MRP, not a selling price. Ozempic 0.25 and 1 mg and the generic ranges are makers' figures or dated news reports. The rest are MRPs printed on at least 2 agreeing pharmacy listings, checked 5–5 Oct 2026. The generic top-dose high end is a weight brand.

Mounjaro's listed MRPs are below its August 2025 launch prices of ₹14,000 to ₹27,500.7 The gap matches the GST cut on medicines from 12% to 5% on 22 September 2025.39

A worked example. We count a year as 52 weekly doses, so a month is about 4.3 doses. At 1 mg, one Ozempic dose costs ₹2,275 (₹9,100 ÷ 4). A year of 52 doses comes to ₹1,18,300 at MRP.2 On top come doctor visits and tests. The median in-clinic fee for an endocrinologist on Practo was ₹1,100. A 6-test blood panel cost a median ₹2,440 at private lab chains.36

The cost calculator works out 6- and 12-month totals for each medicine and dose. Guide 6 covers brands, generics and the all-in cost.

Questions people ask

Is Ozempic approved for diabetes in India?

Yes. Novo Nordisk launched Ozempic in India in December 2025 for type 2 diabetes, in 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg strengths. In India, Wegovy is the brand for obesity and weight management.1,2

Is Mounjaro stronger than Ozempic for diabetes?

In one 40-week trial of people on metformin, HbA1c fell 1.86 points on Ozempic 1 mg. On Mounjaro it fell 2.01 to 2.30 points. Nausea was similar, 18% vs 17% to 22%. Eli Lilly paid for the trial.25

Can you take Ozempic with metformin?

Yes, in trials. Everyone in the SURPASS-2 trial took metformin. The Ozempic label found no new safety signals in 959 people taking 1 or 2 mg with metformin, with or without a sulfonylurea. The 2 mg strength isn't sold in India.1,21,25

Does Ozempic cause low blood sugar?

It can. In trials of Ozempic alone, no severe lows were seen. With metformin or other tablets that aren't sulfonylureas, the EU Ozempic label rates low sugar as common (1 in 10 to 1 in 100). With a sulfonylurea or insulin, it rates it very common (more than 1 in 10).22

Is Rybelsus the same as Ozempic?

Both contain semaglutide. Rybelsus is a daily tablet, approved in India since July 2020, and Ozempic is a weekly injection.1,4

How we researched this

On 5 October 2026 we read the US labels for Ozempic, Rybelsus and Mounjaro, and the EU Ozempic label. Trial figures come from the labels' own tables, except SURPASS‑2, SUSTAIN‑6, FLOW and SURPASS‑CVOT, which come from the published papers. We read RSSDI's 2022 recommendations in full, the RSSDI-ESI 2020 guideline, and the ADA's 2026 Standards. Indian approvals come from CDSCO expert-committee minutes and dated company or news reports. We saved archived copies of the minutes.

We checked each MRP on 5–5 October 2026. We used makers and dated news first, then MRPs printed on at least 2 agreeing pharmacy listings. We could not find India's prescribing information for these brands online. Nor could we find the final Indian wording of the heart and kidney uses. We found no 2024 update to RSSDI's type 2 diabetes recommendations. We left out Indian studies we could see only as search snippets.

Before you move on

  • In India, Ozempic is sold for type 2 diabetes, up to 1 mg a week.
  • In trials, HbA1c fell about 1.2 to 1.8 points, and 1 in 10 to 1 in 5 people felt sick.
  • Indian guidance starts with metformin; heart or kidney disease moves GLP‑1 medicines up.
  • With insulin or a sulfonylurea, lows become more likely.
Side effects and risksThe medicines in IndiaCost calculator

More from the India blog

INIndiaMounjaro vs Ozempic: how they differ in India INIndiaCan Ozempic, Mounjaro and other GLP‑1 medicines cause low blood sugar? INIndiaIs there an Ozempic tablet? Rybelsus and oral semaglutide in India
About GLP Guidebook

The monthly India update

An independent guide to GLP‑1 medicines. We don't sell medicines, take drug-company money or earn clinic commissions. Once a month: new brands, price changes, approvals and recalls. How we write

Was this post easy to understand?

Sources

  1. Business Standard. Novo Nordisk launches Ozempic in India at ₹2,200/week amid patent battles. 12 December 2025. Link
  2. Business Standard (Sanket Koul). As generics wave builds up, Novo Nordisk slashes Ozempic, Wegovy prices. 31 March 2026. Link
  3. CDSCO. Recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee (Endocrinology & Metabolism), 15th/25 meeting, 17 July 2025, item 3 (semaglutide injection, Novo Nordisk India). The live file is overwritten at each meeting. Live PDF · Archived copy, 4 Oct 2026
  4. CDSCO. Recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee (Endocrinology & Metabolism), 22nd/25 meeting, 6 November 2025, item 1 (semaglutide tablets, Novo Nordisk India). PDF · Archived copy
  5. CDSCO. Recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee (Endocrinology & Metabolism), 100th meeting, 20–21 April 2023, item 1 (tirzepatide, Eli Lilly). PDF · Archived copy
  6. Business Standard. Eli Lilly launches Mounjaro in India. 20 March 2025. Link
  7. Business Standard. Mounjaro KwikPen by Lilly debuts in India at ₹14,000 for diabetes, obesity (launch MRPs for each strength). 13 August 2025. Link
  8. Cipla. Cipla launches Yurpeak (tirzepatide). Press release, 10 December 2025. PDF
  9. BioSpectrum. Once-a-week drug for type 2 diabetes launched by Lilly India (Trulicity). 3 March 2016. Link
  10. Business Standard (press release). One drug, four benefits: Novo Nordisk launches Victoza in India. 7 June 2010. Link
  11. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. Glenmark is the first to launch a biosimilar of liraglutide in India (Lirafit). Press release to the stock exchanges, 3 January 2024. PDF
  12. Alkem Laboratories. Alkem launches semaglutide injection in India. Press release, 21 March 2026. PDF
  13. Pearce IP. Generic semaglutide launches in India, including by Dr Reddy's, Zydus, Alkem, Sun Pharma and Glenmark. 21 March 2026. Link
  14. BusinessToday. NATCO opens semaglutide market at ₹1,290 (vials). 20 March 2026. Link
  15. BusinessToday. Dr Reddy's launches oral semaglutide tablets at ₹99 per pill in India. 20 May 2026. Link
  16. Anjana RM, et al. Metabolic non-communicable disease health report of India: the ICMR-INDIAB national cross-sectional study (ICMR-INDIAB-17). Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2023;11(7):474–89. DOI
  17. Chawla R, Madhu SV, Makkar BM, et al. RSSDI-ESI clinical practice recommendations for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus 2020. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2020;24(1):1–122. Joint guideline of RSSDI and the Endocrine Society of India. Declared interests: none. DOI · Full text
  18. Makkar BM, Kumar CV, Saboo B, Agarwal S, for the RSSDI 2022 Consensus Group. RSSDI clinical practice recommendations for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus 2022. Int J Diabetes Dev Ctries. 2022;42(Suppl 1):S1–S143. Pharmacotherapy recommendations, pp. S14 and S19; obesity, p. S52. No declaration of interests in the copy we read. DOI · Full text (RSSDI)
  19. American Diabetes Association. 9. Pharmacologic approaches to glycemic treatment: Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026. Diabetes Care. 2026;49(Suppl 1). Recommendations 9.7, 9.9a–b, 9.10, 9.17, 9.18, 9.21, 9.22. DOI · Full text
  20. American Diabetes Association. 6. Glycemic goals, hypoglycemia, and hyperglycemic crises: Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026. Diabetes Care. 2026;49(Suppl 1). Recommendations 6.3a, Table 6.4. Declared interests: 2 of the 20 Professional Practice Committee members declare ties to Novo Nordisk and 1 to Eli Lilly (ADA disclosures, PMC12690169). DOI · Full text
  21. Novo Nordisk. Ozempic (semaglutide) injection, US prescribing information, revised May 2026. Sections 1, 2.2, 4, 5.3, 5.6, 6.1 (Table 1), 8.3, 12.1, 14.1 (Tables 3 and 8; SUSTAIN‑1 is NCT02054897) (US label, not the Indian one). PDF
  22. European Medicines Agency. Ozempic (semaglutide): summary of product characteristics and package leaflet (EU label). Section 4.8 and leaflet section 4. PDF
  23. Novo Nordisk. Rybelsus and Ozempic (semaglutide) tablets, US prescribing information, revised January 2026. Sections 1, 6.1 (Table 2), 14 (Trial 1, Table 4) (US label, not the Indian one). PDF
  24. Eli Lilly. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injection, US prescribing information, revised August 2026. Sections 1, 6.1 (Table 1), 12.1, 14.2 (Table 4) (US label, not the Indian one). PDF
  25. Frías JP, et al. Tirzepatide versus semaglutide once weekly in patients with type 2 diabetes (SURPASS‑2). N Engl J Med. 2021;385:503–15. 1,879 people, all on metformin, 40 weeks, open-label. Funded by Eli Lilly. DOI · PMID 34170647
  26. Rosenstock J, et al. Efficacy and safety of a novel dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide in patients with type 2 diabetes (SURPASS‑1). Lancet. 2021;398:143–55. Centres in India, Japan, Mexico and the USA. Funded by Eli Lilly. DOI · PMID 34186022
  27. Marso SP, et al. Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN‑6). N Engl J Med. 2016;375:1834–44. 3,297 people, 104 weeks. Funded by Novo Nordisk. DOI · PMID 27633186
  28. Perkovic V, et al. Effects of semaglutide on chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes (FLOW). N Engl J Med. 2024;391:109–21. 3,533 people, median 3.4 years; percentages worked out by us from 331 of 1,767 and 410 of 1,766. Funded by Novo Nordisk. DOI · PMID 38785209
  29. Nicholls SJ, et al. Tirzepatide or dulaglutide for cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes (SURPASS‑CVOT). N Engl J Med. 2025;393(24):2409–20. 13,299 people. Funded by Eli Lilly. DOI · PMID 41406444
  30. Dutta A, Mahendru S, Sharma R, Mithal A. Effectiveness of oral semaglutide in management of type 2 diabetes: a real-world study from India. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2024;28(6):653–8. Retrospective, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket. Funding: nil. DOI · Full text
  31. Chandra KP, et al. Real-world evidence of tirzepatide in Indian adults with type 2 diabetes. Cureus. 2026;18(2):e102866. Retrospective, 7 centres in Lucknow. Six authors declare speaker fees from Eli Lilly. DOI · PMID 41798487
  32. Kaur P, Mahendru S, Mithal A. Long-term efficacy of liraglutide in Indian patients with type 2 diabetes in a real-world setting. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016;20(5):595–9. Retrospective, Medanta, Gurgaon. Funding: nil; no conflicts declared. DOI · PMID 27730066
  33. Press Information Bureau (PIB Research). GLP-1 Drugs: Use, Risks, and Regulation. Government backgrounder, 1 April 2026. PDF
  34. CDSCO. Recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee (Endocrinology & Metabolism), 13–14 February 2024, items 3–4 (semaglutide, Novo Nordisk). PDF · Archived copy
  35. PharmEasy, MrMed, Tata 1mg, Truemeds, Apollo Pharmacy and Medkart product listings, printed MRP, checked 5–5 October 2026: Ozempic 0.5 mg pen; Rybelsus 3 and 14 mg (strip of 10: ₹2,972, ₹3,628); Mounjaro KwikPen, all strengths; Trulicity (₹5,669.06 per 2 pens); Victoza (₹4,991.25 a pen); Lirafit (₹2,085.94 a pen). At least 2 listings agree for each. Not linked. On 11 Oct 2026, PharmEasy gave the 3 mg MRP as ₹3,170 a strip ("since October 2026"), while Medkart still listed ₹2,971.88.
  36. Practo endocrinologist listings in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata, in-clinic fee, 59 doctors, checked 5 October 2026 (Practo). Six-test panel (fasting glucose, HbA1c, creatinine, lipids, liver function, TSH) on 7 private lab-chain websites (Redcliffe, Healthians, Thyrocare, Orange Health, Dr Lal PathLabs, Agilus, Metropolis), price before coupons, ₹1,604 to ₹2,850, checked 5 October 2026.
  37. Medical Dialogues. Recalls by Dr Reddy's, Torrent put spotlight on quality standards in India's semaglutide market. 10 July 2026. Link
  38. Sun Pharma. Sun Pharma launches its semaglutide injection under the brand names Noveltreat and Sematrinity in India. Press release, 21 March 2026 (Noveltreat, a weight brand: about ₹900 to ₹2,000 a week). PDF
  39. Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Finance). Recommendations of the 56th meeting of the GST Council: GST on medicines cut from 12% to 5%, from 22 September 2025. 3 September 2025. PDF
  40. World Health Organization. Diabetes: fact sheet. 14 November 2024. Link

Last checked 5 Oct 2026 · Next review due Apr 2027 · Report an error

How this post was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above. It's general information, not medical advice. Talk to a qualified doctor before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. How we write