MUMBAI, Maharashtra, February 27, 2026 — Abbott, the global healthcare leader, today announced a strategic collaboration with Novo Nordisk India to commercialize Extensior® for people living with type 2 diabetes. This partnership leverages Novo Nordisk’s scientific leadership in GLP-1s and Abbott’s strong distribution network to expand access in India to a high-quality, evidence-based diabetes therapy, beyond regions Novo Nordisk currently serves. Extensior® is a second brand of Ozempic®, the world’s most prescribed GLP-1 RA (receptor agonist) molecule.2
Extensior® is approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise for adults with type 2 diabetes and is a GLP-1 RA recognized for offering the broadest range of benefits for people with this condition. Semaglutide, the molecule in Extensior®, has demonstrated powerful HbA1c reduction, compelling weight-loss benefits, and proven risk reduction of cardiovascular and kidney events in people with type 2 diabetes.1 Semaglutide has demonstrated safety and efficacy through 44+ robust clinical trials and 10+ real-world studies across type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart, liver and kidney disease. It has been on the market globally for close to a decade and has more than 49 million patient years* of use across all semaglutide products.3
Extensior® will be introduced in India as part of Abbott’s expanding portfolio of advanced diabetes solutions and is expected to be available for Indian patients soon. Kartik Rajendran, Managing Director, Abbott India Limited said, “India is facing one of the world’s fastest‑growing diabetes burdens, and addressing this challenge requires continuous innovation and strong partnerships. The launch of Extensior® builds on Abbott’s longstanding focus on holistic diabetes management—from medicines to diagnostics, and from continuous glucose monitoring to diabetes‑specific nutrition. Developed and manufactured by Novo Nordisk, this brand will be commercialized by Abbott, aligned with our commitment to strengthen access to high-quality, evidence-based therapies to support people with diabetes across every stage of their journey.”
Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director, Novo Nordisk India said, “Semaglutide represents one of the most significant scientific advancements in diabetes care in recent decades. It has changed the way type 2 diabetes is managed, offering meaningful improvements in metabolic, renal and cardiovascular health. At Novo Nordisk, we precisely engineer this molecule through a sophisticated r-DNA process to ensure the best quality, safety and efficacy standards. Our partnership with Abbott will help make this innovative molecule accessible to a greater number of people living with type 2 diabetes in India.”
Diabetes is one of the most significant global health issues of our time. More than 100 million individuals in India live with diabetes,4 and this is projected to surge to more than 150 million by 2050—a 50% increase, driven by rapid urbanization, aging populations, increasing obesity and lifestyle changes.5 Cardiovascular and kidney issues now account for much of the long‑term risk faced by people living with type 2 diabetes. India faces a worrying gap in detection and care: 43% of individuals with diabetes remain undiagnosed6, limiting opportunities for early intervention. As type 2 diabetes elevates cardiovascular risk, the growing burden is also straining India’s health‑care system—national diabetes‑related expenditure has already exceeded USD 9.8 billion (INR 88,000+cr).7
Offering Extensior® is a meaningful step forward in expanding access to a solution that addresses holistic management of the condition.
About Extensior®/Ozempic®:
Extensior®/Ozempic® (semaglutide injection) is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with insufficiently controlled Type 2 diabetes. It offers powerful HbA1c reduction, weight-loss benefits and proven risk reduction of cardiovascular and kidney events in people with type 2 diabetes. It will be available in the FlexTouch® Pen - an easy-to-use once-weekly pen device that provides precise dosing in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg dose strengths.1 Semaglutide, the active ingredient in the medicine, is 94% homogenous to the naturally-occurring GLP-1 in the human body.8 In 2025, semaglutide was added to the WHO’s essential medicines list.9
About Novo Nordisk:
Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 68,800 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries.
For more information, visit our website novonordisk.co.in. Follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and YouTube.
About Abbott:
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritional and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. In India, Abbott was established in 1910 and is one of the country's oldest and most admired healthcare companies. With more than 12,000 employees in the country, Abbott is helping to meet the healthcare needs of consumers, patients and doctors throughout urban and rural India.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com and www.abbott.in, and on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Abbott Media:
Mandira Viegas, mandira.viegas@abbott.com
Gayatri Mehendale, gayatri.mehendale@abbott.com
Novo Nordisk Media:
Shashvat Jain, SAVJ@novonordisk.com
Michelle Lobo, WZML@novonordisk.com
References:
1 Extensior® India Prescribing Information
2 IQVIA MIDAS monthly data
3 Novo Nordisk data on file. *Number of people who have used semaglutide multiplied by time on medicine
4 Anjana, R, Unnikrishnan R, Deepa M, et al. (2023). Metabolic non-communicable disease health report of India: the ICMR-INDIAB national cross-sectional study (ICMR-INDIAB-17). The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 11 (7), 474-489.
5 India - Diabetes country report 2000-2050, International Diabetes Federation
6 Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes: a Joint Approach to Halt the Rise, International Diabetes Federation
7 Alfaris N, Waldrop S, Johnson V, Boaventura B, Kendrick K, Stanford FC. GLP-1 single, dual, and triple receptor agonists for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity: a narrative review. EClinicalMedicine. 2024 Aug 30;75:102782.
8 Mahapatra MK et al. Semaglutide, a glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonist with cardiovascular benefits for management of type 2 diabetes. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2022 Jun;23(3):521-539.
9 WHO updates list of essential medicines to include key cancer, diabetes treatments, 5 September 2025
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