The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) approved Danish major Novo Nordisk’s weight loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide injection 2.4 mg) for a new indication — fatty liver disease.

It is now the first and only GLP-1 receptor agonist to receive approval worldwide, including in India, for treating non-cirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in adults with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis, in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

MASH is a liver disorder that arises from excessive fat accumulation in the liver, leading to persistent inflammation and liver injury, Novo Nordisk India stated on Friday.

Novo Nordisk stated that roughly two out of every three people in India suffer from fatty liver disease, underscoring the country’s substantial potential patient base.

It is a quiet, symptomless condition, and individuals frequently do not notice any signs until it has advanced to a later stage, the company stated..

Novo has been competing for a share of India’s rapidly expanding obesity drug market against Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro (LLY.N) and lower-priced generic semaglutide products introduced by domestic pharmaceutical companies such as Dr Reddy’s (REDY.NS) and Sun Pharma (SUN.NS).

According to data from market research firm Pharmarack, the company sold approximately 76,000 units of Wegovy in India during the first six months of 2026.