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
- Average weight loss over 72 weeks:
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).
Source: TH
