Eli Lilly Launches Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) in India for Diabetes and Obesity

Product Launch

• Company: Eli Lilly and Company (U.S.-based pharmaceutical major)
• Drug: Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
• Approval: Received marketing authorisation from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in India.
• Form: Single-dose vial

Medical Benefits

• Indications:
  • Obesity
  • Overweight
  • Type 2 diabetes
• Mechanism: Activates both GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptors.
• Clinical Trial Results:
  • Average weight loss over 72 weeks:
    • 21.8 kg at 15 mg dose
    • 15.4 kg at 5 mg dose

Pricing in India

• 2.5 mg vial: ₹3,500
• 5 mg vial: ₹4,375
• Monthly cost (weekly doses): ₹14,000 to ₹17,500 (dose-dependent)
• Price Comparison:
  • U.S. price: $1,000–$1,200 per month (₹86,000 to ₹1 lakh)
• Company statement: Pricing reflects Lilly’s commitment to affordable access in India.

Growing Market Landscape in India

• GLP-1 class drug demand:
  • Market worth hundreds of billions of dollars
  • Semaglutide, a key drug in this class, to go off-patent in March 2026.
• Key competitors preparing generics:
  • Mankind Pharma Ltd.
  • Alkem Labs Ltd.
  • Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd.
• Existing market leaders:
  • Novo Nordisk’s Rybelsus (oral semaglutide) launched in 2022; holds 65% market share.
  • Other weight-loss medications: dulaglutide, liraglutide.

Market Growth

• Anti-obesity drug market in India:
  • ₹137 crore in November 2020
  • Expanded to ₹535 crore by November 2024 (as per Pharmatrac).