New Weight-Loss Drug Hits the Market in India

Eli Lilly Introduces Weight-Loss Drug Mounjaro in India to Tackle Obesity and Diabetes Crisis

American pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company rolled out its injectable weight-loss drug, Mounjaro, in India on Thursday, marking a milestone as the first multinational company to bring this widely used Western treatment to the Indian market. With obesity and type-2 diabetes posing a growing health crisis in the country, the launch is a significant step toward addressing these challenges.

Available as a once-weekly injection, Mounjaro is priced at ₹4,375 for a 5 mg vial and ₹3,500 for a 2.5 mg vial, the lowest dose, according to the company. Approved by India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on June 16, 2024, for import and sales, the drug has shown impressive results in clinical trials. Adults in controlled studies lost an average of 21.8 kilograms on the highest dose and 15.4 kilograms on the lowest dose over 72 weeks when paired with diet and exercise.

Known chemically as tirzepatide, Mounjaro has already made waves in the US, UK, and Europe. Before its official launch in India, patients had been importing it for personal use. Now, with local availability, a monthly regimen of four 2.5 mg doses costs around ₹14,000—considerably less than the ₹23,000 to ₹25,000 it fetches in the UK when converted to Indian rupees.

India’s struggle with metabolic disorders is stark. The company cites estimates that 101 million people in India live with diabetes, nearly half of whom lack adequate treatment, leading to poor blood sugar control. Meanwhile, adult obesity affects roughly 6.5% of the population—close to 100 million people—as of 2023. Obesity is a gateway to over 200 health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and sleep apnea, and significantly raises the risk of diabetes.

“The twin challenges of obesity and type-2 diabetes are becoming a pressing public health issue in India,” said Winselow Tucker, president and general manager of Lilly India. “Lilly is dedicated to working with the government and industry to raise awareness and enhance prevention and treatment efforts.”

However, experts urge caution. Dr. Nikhil Tandon, head of endocrinology at AIIMS Delhi, emphasized that such drugs should only be used under medical supervision. “These medications are promising, but they’re not for everyone,” he said. “We know who they benefit most, and not everyone can handle the highest doses safely.”

Mounjaro stands out in obesity treatment by targeting two key hormone pathways—glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors. Found in brain areas that control appetite, these receptors, when activated, curb hunger, reduce food intake, shrink fat mass, and adjust how the body processes fats.

Eli Lilly positions Mounjaro as a complement to diet and exercise for adults needing chronic weight management. It’s approved for those with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher (obesity) or 27 kg/m² or higher (overweight) with at least one weight-related condition, as well as for blood sugar control in type-2 diabetes patients.

The drug’s effectiveness stems from two major global studies: SURMOUNT-1 for weight loss and SURPASS for diabetes. In SURMOUNT-1, involving 2,539 adults with obesity or excess weight (but not diabetes), participants on Mounjaro, alongside lifestyle changes, shed far more weight than those on placebo over 72 weeks. At the 15 mg dose, they lost an average of 21.8 kilograms; at 5 mg, 15.4 kilograms—compared to just 3.2 kilograms for the placebo group. Remarkably, one in three people on the highest dose dropped over 26.3 kilograms (25% of their body weight), versus just 1.5% on placebo.

In the SURPASS trials for diabetes, conducted over 40 weeks, Mounjaro lowered A1C levels—a measure of long-term blood sugar—by 1.8% to 2.1% at 5 mg and 1.7% to 2.4% at 10 mg and 15 mg doses, whether used alone or with other diabetes drugs.

With its dual action and proven results, Mounjaro’s arrival in India offers hope amid a mounting health crisis—but experts stress it’s no quick fix without proper oversight.