Novo Nordisk to phase out its largest insulin brand in India

In a move which could shake up the diabetes market, Novo Nordisk is discontinuing the country’s largest selling insulin, Human Mixtard , among other older insulin brands in India. Human Mixtard alone is a Rs 800 crore brand for Novo Nordisk in India, despite it being under price control. Besides Human Mixtard, the phase-out could impact its top brands in the Rs 5,000 crore insulin market including Actrapid, Insulatard, Insulin Detemir and Levemir and Xultophy — marketed mostly in the format of pre-filled disposable pen and cartridges (Penfill and FlexPen).

The company recently informed its marketing partner, Abbott India that the products would be discontinued once the current stocks are exhausted, documents accessed by TOI said. This could take about six months.

The decision is in line with the global strategy of the Danish company to prioritise newer, patented blockbuster diabetes and weight loss therapies including Ozempic and Wegovy , due to their higher profitability, sources said. Also, it seems to be potentially in line with its plans to introduce these therapies in the Indian market this year.

As part of its global strategy, earlier generation insulin products will be discontinued globally in a gradual manner. An email sent on April 17 to the company went unanswered.

However, the company plans to continue selling Human Mixtard, Actrapid and Insulatard, in vials — which can be delivered to patients through injections. This may limit the access further as insulin delivery from pen devices is preferred by a huge majority of diabetics over vials injected with syringes, due to its accuracy, ease of dosing, and reduced stigma, a survey said earlier.