INDIA – Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, renowned for its blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, is strengthening its presence in India by enhancing its leadership team and forming partnerships with local artificial intelligence (AI) startups.
The expansion is part of the company’s broader strategy to streamline operations globally, leveraging India’s rapidly growing AI ecosystem.
AI partnerships to drive efficiency
According to John Dawber, Managing Director for Global Business Services, these startups are providing AI tools that assist in tasks such as document summarization, extracting insights, and error detection.
Medical writers at Novo Nordisk are also using these AI solutions to significantly reduce the time required for quality checks on regulatory documents—from 40 hours to just 40 minutes.
These AI tools are being rolled out across Novo Nordisk’s global operations, with further partnerships anticipated as the company continues its expansion.
Bengaluru center to mirror Denmark headquarters
Novo Nordisk’s operations in India, specifically in Bengaluru, have been integral to the company’s global growth since they began 17 years ago.
The Bengaluru center manages massive amounts of data, including clinical trial results and safety data related to the efficacy of the company’s medicines.
Dawber expects this center to evolve into a near-perfect replica of Novo Nordisk’s headquarters in Denmark within the next three years, particularly in handling critical research and development data.
Growing workforce and leadership in India
In addition to expanding its technological capabilities, Novo Nordisk is ramping up its human resources in India.
Over the next three to four years, the company plans to double the number of global process leaders based in India and increase its total headcount by 16%, reaching 5,000 employees by next year.
This expansion emphasizes India’s central role in Novo Nordisk’s research, regulatory compliance, and data management operations.
Pharma giants betting on India
Novo Nordisk is not alone in recognizing the potential of India’s booming pharmaceutical and technology sectors.
Several other major global pharmaceutical companies are also making significant investments in the country:
Sanofi: The French drugmaker announced a US $437 million investment in its India operations earlier this year, reflecting the growing importance of the region in its global business.
Bristol Myers Squibb: The U.S.-based pharma giant revealed that its Hyderabad facility is expected to become its largest operation outside the United States by 2025.
Like Novo Nordisk, Bristol Myers Squibb is looking to enhance its drug development capabilities through the use of AI and digital technologies.
AI’s role in the future of pharma
India’s AI ecosystem is rapidly expanding, with over 100 generative AI startups raising more than US $600 million between 2019 and the first half of 2024.
Novo Nordisk’s partnerships with AI startups in India reflect the country’s growing influence in global healthcare innovation.
As pharmaceutical companies increasingly rely on AI to improve operational efficiency and drug development, India is poised to become a critical hub for such collaborations.
Global competition in the weight-loss market
Novo Nordisk’s expansion comes at a time when it is competing fiercely with rivals like Eli Lilly for dominance in the weight-loss and diabetes drug markets.
Wegovy and its competitor Mounjaro, developed by Eli Lilly, are both part of a class of GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs designed to control blood sugar and support weight loss.
Analysts predict that the global market for these drugs could reach US $150 billion in the next decade, and both companies are preparing to launch their products in India as they vie for market share.
