Novo Nordisk Launches Once-Weekly Basal Insulin Awiqli in India

A major significant development for diabetes care, as Novo Nordisk India has introduced the Awiqli (insulin icodec), it is world’s first once-weekly basal insulin for adults with the Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. This launch marks an important step towards to simplifying insulin therapy by reducing the number of injections from 365 per year to just 52. As India continues to face the diabetes burden, this innovation could improve the treatment adherence, patient comfort, and long-term disease management.

What Is Awiqli?

Awiqli is a weekly insulin produced by Novo Nordisk that allows for the treatment of adults that have either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Unlike the conventional long-acting insulins which require daily injections, Awiqli provides a way to regulate blood glucose levels steadily and uniformly after only a single injection once per week.

The active component of Awiqli, known as insulin icodec, is created in such a way as to effectively last in the body for a whole week and provide continuous regulation of the symptoms of diabetes while minimizing the disadvantages connected with the treatment.

The drug is delivered through a special FlexTouch injection device manufactured by Novo Nordisk. This makes it easier for patients to take their weekly dose without any assistance.

Drastic Change in the Treatment of Diabetes.

Awiqli from Novo Nordisk is way more than just an added benefit in the existing therapy, because the company deems it as an advancing technology that makes the treatment of diabetes simple.

For many patients that are just about to commence insulin therapy, it is delayed due to fears like,

Fear of having to do injections every day
Pain associated with delivery
Complexity involved in scheduling
Hypoglycaemia
Fear of gaining weight
Dose adjustment issues
Complications in long-term management

Awiqli offers a solution that allows patients to have just one injection on a weekly basis.

Results of Clinical Trial: Evidence Collected

Novo Nordisk has summarized the results of its worldwide ONWARDS-1 clinical study, which studied the efficiency and safety of insulin icodec.

In the message of the company, the study showed that Awiqli has,

Provided better decline of the HbA1c compared to the insulin glargine U100 with daily use.
Enhanced Time in Range, which means that the patients spend more time with their blood glucose being at normal levels.
Helped more patients with Type 2 diabetes reach the level of HbA1c below 7 % and avoid hypoglycemia.
Assured better blood glucose control during the day.

The results prove that insulin taken once a week can help manage diabetes without the need for frequent shots.

Importance of This Launch for India

India has the highest number of diabetic patients in the world, making the launch of any diabetes treatment innovation an important event.

According to estimates available,

Over 101 million people in India suffer from diabetes.

About 136 million people suffer from prediabetes and have a high chance of developing diabetes.

The most recent National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6, 2023–24) indicates an increasing incidence of high blood sugar level in both urban and rural areas.

Adults who are aged 15 or older,

The percentage of males using hormone therapy for the diabetes rose from 15.6% in NFHS-5 to 20.9% in NFHS-6.

The same figures for females in the latest NFHS is 13.5% and 17.8%, respectively.

This data reflect the increasing need for treatment options aimed at effective management of diabetes in the long term.