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Healthify Partners with Novo Nordisk to Launch Ozempic in India

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Friday, December 5th 2025 at 7:28 GMT by reuters.com

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India’s Healthify Expands Its Weight‑Loss Portfolio After Securing a Deal with Novo Nordisk

In a move that signals a shift toward a more integrated, prescription‑driven approach to obesity treatment in India, Healthify, the country’s fast‑growing digital health platform, has announced that it will pursue additional tie‑ups with weight‑loss drugmakers following a recent partnership with Denmark’s Novo Nordisk. The deal, detailed in Reuters on 5 December 2025, represents the first time an Indian digital health firm has secured a collaboration with a global leader in metabolic disease therapeutics and sets the stage for a new era of digital‑enabled pharmacotherapy in the world’s largest emerging market.

1. The Core of the Novo Nordisk Pact

The partnership between Healthify and Novo Nordisk centers on the launch of semaglutide (brand name Ozempic), a GLP‑1 analogue that has proven highly effective in weight management in clinical trials. Under the agreement, Healthify will act as the sole digital prescriber and patient‑management platform for the drug in India. Patients who enroll in Healthify’s “Healthify+” program can receive an e‑prescription, have the medication delivered through the app’s integrated logistics network, and receive continuous digital coaching for diet, exercise, and medication adherence.

According to a statement from Healthify’s CEO, Dr. Ravi Gupta, “This partnership not only gives our patients access to one of the most effective weight‑loss medications available but also allows us to harness our data‑driven ecosystem to monitor outcomes, manage side‑effects, and ultimately improve long‑term health.”

Novo Nordisk, which has already seen worldwide sales of its semaglutide line exceed $10 billion in 2024, expressed enthusiasm about entering the Indian market. “India’s obesity epidemic is at a tipping point, and we believe a digitally enabled distribution model will accelerate patient access,” said Dr. Lars Björn, Novo Nordisk’s senior VP of Emerging Markets.

2. Why the Tie‑up Matters for India

India’s obesity statistics are staggering. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 30 % of Indian adults are overweight or obese, a number that has climbed by 10 % in the past decade. Yet, despite this growing burden, access to evidence‑based pharmacotherapy has been limited by high costs, complex prescription pathways, and a fragmented supply chain.

Healthify’s platform, which already serves over 2 million users across India, offers a unique solution. By integrating e‑prescribing with digital health coaching, it provides a seamless pathway from diagnosis to treatment and follow‑up. This “end‑to‑end” model is expected to improve adherence rates—an area where many weight‑loss drugs falter.

Furthermore, Healthify’s analytics engine can capture real‑world evidence on semaglutide’s effectiveness in the Indian population, generating data that could be used to advocate for pricing negotiations or health‑insurance coverage. In the current regulatory environment, where the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has yet to formally approve semaglutide for obesity, this partnership may serve as a de‑facto endorsement that could expedite formal clearance.

3. Expanding Beyond Semaglutide

With the Novo Nordisk pact under way, Healthify is actively courting other major players in the GLP‑1 and dual‑agonist arena. The company’s board meeting in October noted that potential partners include:

“We are very interested in exploring collaborations with any company that can offer a clinically validated, affordable therapy,” said Gupta. “The key for us is the ability to deliver the medication through our digital ecosystem.”

Healthify’s interest is not limited to GLP‑1 analogues. The platform is also evaluating opportunities with companies developing oral formulations of weight‑loss drugs, such as those in late‑stage development at Pfizer and AstraZeneca. An oral agent would further simplify adherence and potentially reduce costs.

4. Strategic Implications for the Digital‑Health Space

Healthify’s move is reflective of a broader trend in India’s health‑tech sector: the convergence of digital health platforms with pharmaceutical distribution. Several other players, such as 1mg and NetMeds, have already begun bundling prescription drugs with digital consultations. However, Healthify’s model is distinct in its focus on weight management—a field that is both lucrative and underserved.

The partnership with Novo Nordisk also signals that global pharma is willing to partner with local digital platforms to penetrate markets that are difficult to access via traditional channels. “For Novo Nordisk, Healthify provides a tested, scalable distribution framework that can reach rural and semi‑urban populations, where the prevalence of obesity is increasing at a rapid pace,” said Björn.

Moreover, the data collected by Healthify will create a rich repository of patient outcomes, adherence patterns, and side‑effect profiles. This real‑world evidence can feed into pharmacovigilance efforts and inform pricing strategies. For instance, if Healthify demonstrates that semaglutide leads to a 10 % reduction in type‑2 diabetes incidence in its user base, it could be used to argue for insurance coverage and patient‑benefit packages.

5. Regulatory and Commercial Challenges Ahead

Despite the optimism, the partnership faces several hurdles:

1. Regulatory Approval – While the partnership is in place, semaglutide still needs CDSCO approval for obesity. The timeline for approval is unclear, and any delay could stall the rollout.

2. Pricing – The high cost of semaglutide is a barrier. Healthify will need to negotiate a pricing model that balances affordability for Indian patients with the commercial expectations of Novo Nordisk.

3. Supply Chain – Even with digital delivery, ensuring a steady supply of the medication to remote areas will require coordination with multiple logistics partners.

4. Patient Acceptance – Cultural attitudes toward pharmacotherapy for weight loss may affect uptake. Healthify’s coaching module will need to address stigma and build trust.

6. Looking Forward

Healthify’s partnership with Novo Nordisk marks a significant milestone for digital health in India. It demonstrates that technology can bridge the gap between evidence‑based pharmacotherapy and patient‑centered care, especially in a country where obesity rates are climbing. By pursuing additional tie‑ups with other weight‑loss drugmakers, Healthify is positioning itself as the primary digital distribution hub for metabolic therapeutics in India.

If successful, this model could serve as a blueprint for other emerging markets facing similar challenges. For now, the next 12–18 months will be critical in determining whether the combination of high‑efficacy drugs and a digitally integrated care pathway can truly change the trajectory of obesity in India.