Eli Lilly’s anti-obesity and diabetic medication Mounjaro, which was just introduced six months ago, is already the second-largest brand in India’s pharmaceutical industry, a reflection of the growing demand for weight-loss treatments in that nation.
The antibiotic Augmentin from GSK had the highest sales in September, at Rs 85 crore, followed by Mounjaro at Rs 80 crore, according to the most recent Indian Pharmaceutical Market (IPM) data.
The once-weekly injectable medication has disrupted chronic therapy in India, with cumulative revenue currently reaching Rs 233 crore.
What is Mounjaro
The once-weekly injectable medication Mounjaro, also marketed under the generic name tirzepatide, was first created to treat type 2 diabetes.
It functions by imitating GLP-1 and GIP, two gut hormones that aid in controlling hunger and blood sugar levels.
Clinical investigations have shown that this dual action not only improves glucose control but also results in significant weight loss, with an average drop of 20–22% in body weight.
Mounjaro is one of the most talked-about medications in the new class of anti-obesity and metabolic medicines worldwide, and its quick adoption in India demonstrates how high the demand for these treatments has become.
The Pharma Market’s Quickest Growth
Since its late March launch in India, Mounjaro has risen rapidly. One of the fastest-growing medications on the market, the brand’s sales increased 43 percent between August and September, from Rs 56 crore to Rs 80 crore.
According to Sheetal Sapale, vice president at Pharmarack, a B2B healthcare platform, “Mounjaro is expected to supplement and accelerate this growth,” highlighting the medication’s robust momentum in the chronic therapy market.
While the Indian pharmaceutical market as a whole grew by 7.3% in September, Mounjaro’s growth trajectory was particularly noteworthy.
Experts added that the introduction of a more user-friendly Kwikpen formulation, which has made the medication simpler for patients to take, is a major contributing factor to this increase.
“The sales got a boost from the launch of Mounjaro in Kwikpens, which are disposable pens pre-filled with the drug,” Sapale stated.
Depending on dose, the injectable Kwikpens, which were released in August, cost anywhere from Rs 14,000 to Rs 27,500.
Strong physician adoption, patient awareness efforts, and the growing acceptability of prescription weight-loss medications in India have all contributed to the brand’s ongoing demand despite its high price.
Patients now get an even better deal thanks to the GST drop from 18% to 5%, which went into effect on September 22. The change has reduced the monthly cost of Mounjaro’s 5 mg vial by roughly Rs 1,096, to about Rs 16,404, and the monthly cost of the 2.5 mg vial has decreased by approximately Rs 876.
Growing Rivalry
Eli Lilly’s quick expansion coincides with increased rivalry in the anti-obesity market in India.
In June, rival Novo Nordisk also introduced Wegovy, a highly anticipated injectable medication that has already made it into the top 40 pharmaceutical brands list.
As awareness and prescriptions increase, analysts predict that Wegovy’s sales will increase in the upcoming quarters, possibly paving the way for a new competition between Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly in India’s high-end weight-loss market.
The success of Mounjaro demonstrates a broader change in the way that Indians consume healthcare.