Indian Launch of Mounjaro

On Thursday, 20th March, 2025, Eli Lilly, the US pharma company, launched its international best-seller drug Mounjaro ( tirzepatide) in India.

It is priced at Rs.14000 for a 2.5 mg monthly dose — Rs. 3500 per vial. The price for a 5 mg monthly dose is going to be Rs.17500 — Rs.4375 per vial. In the US, the drug costs $1000 for a monthly dose. Thus, it is available in India at a fraction of its cost in the US.

The drug is used for type II diabetes and obesity.

Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy have made waves across the world. Nordisk is a Danish drug maker. Nordisk proposes to introduce Wegovy in India in 2026. However, it may release the drug even earlier. Its oral version — Rybelsus — has been launched in India in 2020 but it is not as efficacious as its injectable counterpart.

Nordisk had become Europe’s most valuable company and had a market share value in 2023 that was higher than its native country’s GDP. In 2022, over 65 per cent of all drug prescriptions were for Ozempic alone.

Globally, today the most powerful anti-obesity drug is Mounjaro. Doctors are flooded with prescription requests. However, it is advised to take the drug under medical supervision and advice, since there could be potential side effects.

Monjuaro has been launched after the approval from CDSCO — Central Drugs Standard Control Organization. Pharmacologically Mounjaro activates both GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) hormone receptors.

Domestic firms in India are working on genetic version of semiglutide, a key drug in the GLP-1 class. Sun Pharma is working on utreglutide, Cipla is working on generic version of Wegovy, Biocon is working on litraglutide, GLP-1 version. Natco is developing a generic version of Ozempic.

There are 101 million diabetic patients in India. Half of them have poor glycemic control. According to WHO estimate (2022), one in eight in the world live with obesity. Obesity causes diabetes in 44 per cent of all diabetes cases, 23 per cent ischemic heart diseases and 7-41 per cent of all cancer cases. At least, 44 million women and 26 million men (over 20 years) are clinically obese (Lancet study).

These drugs in India will have more takers for obesity or weight management. Eli Lilly says Mounjaro will be used as an adjunct to reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults.