By Salonee Kulkarni
Emcure Pharmaceutical Company on Monday announced its entry in the field of fast-growing obesity and metabolic health segment by launching Poviztra, a semaglutide injection, which helps in weight loss.
Emcure, in an exchange filing, stated that it is the first Indian company to venture into the distribution and commercialisation of Poviztra. Poviztra’s positioning in the market is strategised by Novo Nordisk. Poviztra is the second drug brand by Novo Nordisk, which is a semaglutide for weight management and reduction.
The four weekly doses are priced at ₹8790 per month. Its accessibility in India is five dosage strength once per week pen device.
India is crippling with the obesity crisis. It is estimated that around 254 million people are living with generalised obesity, while 351 million people, adding to the previous data, have been diagnosed with abdominal obesity. India battles with a grim healthcare crisis; the entry of Poviztra in the Indian market acts as a hope for individuals affected by metabolic disorders. Satish Mehta, CEO and Managing Director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd, establishes the importance of the innovation Poviztra.
The semaglutide drug, used as a supplement to diet and physical activity, helps manage chronic obesity and diabetes. It helps with hypertension and other health-related conditions and mitigates the risk of cardiovascular problems and events in individuals highly prone to such susceptibility.
The magic of its reliability lies in its formulation and extensive research by Emcure, supported by endless trials and backed by in-depth research by global clinics. The trials have proven to be effective when tested on patients, and the results have shown a reduction in weight loss for the patients. The molecule for the formulation has been extensively experimented with for more than a decade, demonstrating the formulation’s capability based on extensive research.
Satish Mehta assured the stakeholders that the distribution channel of the drug is pan-India, ensuring greater accessibility and reach and allowing the scope for advanced therapies for patients based on semaglutide. India has witnessed a rise in demand for drugs which mitigate the risks associated with obesity and metabolic disorders, and can act as a supplement to shifting lifestyle choices. The drugmakers target audiences who want the drug to act as an intervention for chronic therapies for obesity treatment.
Semaglutide’s mechanism revolves around the imitation of a natural hormone, GLP-1. The imitation is focused on the mechanism of the natural hormone, which reduces appetite and craving. Thus, hunger is controlled by slowing down the process of gastric emptiness. After every meal, the individual does not feel hungry as blood sugar levels are controlled and insulin is secreted. A sense of fullness in terms of hunger is achieved by the regulation of glucagon and the detection of the rise in glucose in the blood.