By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : July 20, 2026 6:08 pm
Innovator semaglutide becomes India's first and only GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for adults with non-cirrhotic MASH and moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis
Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited has announced that Poviztra, its co-marketed brand of innovator semaglutide (rDNA origin), will now be available for the treatment of non-cirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in adults with moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis (F2-F3) following the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization's (CDSCO) approval of Wegovy® for the indication.
With the approval, Novo Nordisk's innovator semaglutide becomes the first and only GLP-1 receptor agonist approved in India for the treatment of MASH.
The expanded indication enables Emcure and its subsidiaries to offer the therapy through Poviztra®, providing patients with access to a treatment option for a progressive liver disease that has had limited therapeutic choices.
MASH is a serious form of fatty liver disease in which excess fat accumulation triggers chronic inflammation, fibrosis and progressive liver damage. The condition is closely associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders and often remains undiagnosed until advanced stages because of the absence of symptoms.
The approval is based on findings from the global Phase III ESSENCE trial, where semaglutide demonstrated resolution of steatohepatitis in 63% of patients and improvement in liver fibrosis in 37% of patients.
The study also showed that one in three patients achieved both resolution of steatohepatitis and improvement in liver fibrosis, highlighting the drug's potential to modify the underlying disease while delivering established metabolic benefits.
Satish Mehta, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited, said, "The approval for MASH marks an important milestone for patients living with a serious and often underdiagnosed liver disease. We are pleased to make this important new indication available through Poviztra, further strengthening our commitment to bringing globally validated, innovative therapies to patients in India."
"We look forward to working closely with healthcare professionals to improve awareness, encourage earlier diagnosis and expand access to evidence-based treatment for people living with MASH," said Mehta.