Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited today 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 this indication.
The approval enables Emcure to offer the new indication through Poviztra®, expanding access to the innovator molecule from Novo Nordisk, the first and only GLP-1 receptor agonist approved in India for the treatment of MASH. The therapy is manufactured at Novo Nordisk’s European facility and imported into India.
MASH is a progressive liver disease in which excess fat accumulation leads to chronic inflammation, fibrosis and liver damage. Closely associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders, the condition often remains undiagnosed until advanced stages, underscoring the need for early detection and timely treatment.
The approval is backed by findings from the global Phase III ESSENCE trial, where semaglutide achieved resolution of steatohepatitis in 63% of patients and improvement in liver fibrosis in 37%. One in three patients experienced both steatohepatitis resolution and fibrosis improvement, demonstrating the therapy’s potential to address the underlying disease alongside its established metabolic benefits.
“The approval for MASH marks an important milestone for patients living with a serious and often underdiagnosed liver disease,” said Satish Mehta, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited. “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.”
Poviztra® is already approved in India for chronic weight management, obesity associated with cardiovascular disease and adolescent obesity in patients aged 12 years and above. Through its subsidiary Zuventus Healthcare and its established gastroenterology and hepatology portfolio, Emcure aims to strengthen awareness, diagnosis and treatment of MASH while supporting better long-term patient outcomes.
