Eli Lilly, the renowned US pharmaceutical company widely recognized for its weight-loss treatments, is set to introduce its blockbuster drug Tirzepatide in India by 2025. The drug, marketed globally under the brand name Mounjaro, will target both type 2 diabetes and obesity in India. Marketing authorization for the drug was granted earlier in July, and the company is now securing additional regulatory approvals ahead of its launch.
“India is a highly promising market, given its large and growing population, increasing prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and cancer, and rising health expenditure. These factors make us very optimistic about the opportunities in India. We are committed to introducing our next line of innovations here, starting with Tirzepatide and our obesity pipeline in 2025,” said Vineet Gupta, Associate Vice President and Managing Director of Eli Lilly India, in an exclusive interview with The Times of India.
Mounjaro has already seen tremendous global success, with sales exceeding $3.1 billion in Q3 2024 alone. The drug will face competition from Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, which is expected to enter the Indian market by 2026. With demand for weight-loss drugs surging worldwide, both companies are among the most valuable in the pharmaceutical industry, competing aggressively in the obesity market, which analysts predict could surpass $100 billion in the next decade.
While the US price of Mounjaro is approximately $1,000 per fill, actual patient costs vary depending on insurance coverage. In India, however, the drug has been entering through unofficial channels, with prices significantly lower than in the US. Gupta noted that the pricing for Tirzepatide in India is yet to be finalized, but it will be “competitive and reflective of the drug’s efficacy and the value it offers in reducing the health and economic burden of type 2 diabetes and obesity.”
The launch of Mounjaro will also expand Eli Lilly’s diabetes portfolio in India. The company has strategic distribution partnerships with domestic pharmaceutical firms, including Lupin for the Huminsulin range and Cipla for Humalog and Trulicity. Additionally, Eli Lilly collaborates with Gland Pharma for the contract manufacturing of human insulin vials.
Having operated in India since 1993, Eli Lilly follows a mixed strategy of partnerships and direct promotion for its products. Gupta emphasized that the company is expanding its commercial operations in preparation for introducing these innovative treatments to the Indian market.