Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical company, is considering launching its weight-loss drug Wegovy earlier than originally planned in India to stay competitive with Eli Lilly, according to sources familiar with the matter. The company had initially scheduled the drug's release for 2026 but is now aiming to introduce it in India within the next few months. They are also evaluating the stock availability to meet the demand and prevent any supply shortages. This decision comes after Eli Lilly recently launched its diabetes and obesity drug Mounjaro in India. Both Novo and Lilly have experienced high demand for their weight-loss medications, as these drugs fall under GLP-1 receptor agonists category that helps manage blood sugar levels and promotes a feeling of fullness. The active ingredient in Novo's Wegovy and Ozempic is semaglutide, which will go off patent in India in 2026, enabling generic versions to be produced. Indian pharmaceutical companies like Sun Pharma, Cipla, and Dr. Reddy's are preparing to enter the market to tap into the potential $150 billion global market for these drugs. Novo Nordisk has not yet confirmed the launch date for Wegovy in India but believes that their brand names Ozempic and Wegovy have a good market presence to give them a competitive advantage against Lilly. However, Novo would need to price their drug competitively compared to Lilly's Mounjaro, which costs approximately $50 for a 5 milligram vial and $40 for a 2.5 milligram vial.