The missing cartons include not just semaglutide injections (marketed as Wegovy), but also several types of insulin formulations used by people with diabetes.
Published Aug 22, 2025 | 9:42 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 22, 2025 | 9:42 AM
Wegovy.
Synopsis: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation said that multiple consignments of Novo Nordisk medicines, including the coveted weight-loss shot Wegovy, were stolen while being transported from Maharashtra to several cities.
In a country where gyms sell memberships nobody uses and diet fads last only until the next wedding buffet, even thieves now seem to be chasing “quick weight loss”, India’s drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) reported on Thursday, 21 August, that multiple consignments of Novo Nordisk medicines, including the coveted weight-loss shot Wegovy, were stolen while being transported from Maharashtra to several cities.
Apparently, crime has officially joined the weight-loss industry. The company informed authorities that the theft took place while supplies were being transported from its Bhiwandi hub in Maharashtra en route to cities including Nagpur, Raipur, Cuttack, and Kolkata.
The missing cartons include not just the blockbuster semaglutide injections (marketed as Wegovy), but also several types of insulin formulations used by people with diabetes.
These aren’t just regular vials lying around. The CDSCO pointed out that these medicines are delicate rDNA-origin injectables meant to be stored at a constant temperature of 2–8°C. If they were left unrefrigerated, their quality and safety could be severely compromised.
Translation: Even if the thieves thought they were bagging liquid gold, they might have ended up with nothing more than expensive spoiled shots.
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Why these drugs are in the spotlight
Among the stolen items were insulin degludec/aspart (Ryzodeg) and insulin aspart (Fiasp) — critical for patients managing diabetes. But what really grabs attention are the missing pens of semaglutide (Wegovy).
Originally developed as a diabetes medication, semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that regulates appetite and blood sugar. In plain words, it tricks the brain into feeling full and slows digestion, which is why it has become the world’s most talked-about weight-loss injection.
From Hollywood celebrities to office WhatsApp groups, everyone seems to know someone who wants a Wegovy pen.
In India, where obesity rates are rising and weight-loss quick fixes are an evergreen market, demand is high — even though the drug isn’t widely available or cheap.
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The official word
“The quality of the products may be compromised if the products are not handled in proper storage conditions… this would impact the safety of patients,” CDSCO warned, adding that the matter is under police investigation.
It has asked doctors to carefully prescribe and educate patients, consumers to only buy from authorised sources with invoices, and state regulators to keep a sharp lookout for suspicious stock.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
