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Diabetes and obesity management drug Mounjaro sees sales rise in India
Eli Lilly's diabetes and obesity management drug Mounjaro saw a sharp rise in sales for the third consecutive month, driven by increasing demand and a growing number of patients shifting to higher dosages, according to market research firm Pharmarack. In May, volume sales of the 5 mg dose grew by 2.5 times.
The drug, launched in India on 20 March this year, is currently available in two injectable dosage forms — 2.5 and 5 milligrams (mg). It is prescribed primarily for patients who meet certain clinical criteria related to obesity and diabetes.
Data suggests that both value and quantity sales of the 5 mg form more than doubled from April to May, outperforming the 2.5 mg dosage.
Mounjaro 5 mg sales rose from 9,380 units in April (valued at ₹3.08 crore) to 22,940 units in May, valued at ₹7.53 crore.
For the 2.5 mg form, demand growth was relatively muted — 19,350 units in May, up from 18,270 units in April. The sales value for May stood at ₹5.08 crore, up marginally from ₹4.8 crore the previous month.
However, the steady growth in the 2.5 mg dosage indicates a consistent rise in new patients starting the drug. Patients typically begin treatment with the 2.5 mg dose, which is gradually escalated.
'The almost doubling of sales for the 5 mg form is because existing patients are upgrading to higher doses after four weeks, while new patients are also onboarding Mounjaro in good numbers,' said Sheetal Sapale, vice-president (commercial) at Pharmarack.
Treatment with Mounjaro is typically initiated with the lowest available dosage (2.5 mg), administered subcutaneously once a week.
'This starting dose is usually maintained for the first four weeks to help the patient adjust and minimise potential side effects,' said Dr Sukhvinder Singh Saggu, director for minimal access, GI and bariatric surgery at CK Birla Hospital, Delhi.
After this initial phase, the dose is commonly increased to 5 mg weekly, as weight-loss outcomes tend to be more pronounced at this level.
Experts add that while the 2.5 mg dose helps initiate the process, many patients experience a plateau at that dosage, and shifting to 5 mg allows for more consistent and promising results.
Doctors say inquiries for the drug have risen steadily, with Mounjaro now also being prescribed in select cases prior to bariatric surgery. Saggu said many new patients are actively inquiring about the drug, either as a new treatment option or as part of their ongoing weight management plans.
'Some of our existing patients, who were previously prescribed medications like Fenoglide, are now also being considered for Mounjaro as an alternative or add-on therapy,' he added.
According to standard guidelines for obesity management medications (OMMs), a patient must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 27 with at least one obesity-related comorbidity, such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol.
However, doctors are also receiving inquiries from individuals who do not meet the medical criteria. 'We are strictly discouraging its use for cosmetic purposes or in patients who do not meet the clinical threshold,' Saggu said.
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Business Standard
4 hours ago
- Business Standard
Diabetes and obesity management drug Mounjaro sees sales rise in India
Eli Lilly's diabetes and obesity management drug Mounjaro saw a sharp rise in sales for the third consecutive month, driven by increasing demand and a growing number of patients shifting to higher dosages, according to market research firm Pharmarack. In May, volume sales of the 5 mg dose grew by 2.5 times. The drug, launched in India on 20 March this year, is currently available in two injectable dosage forms — 2.5 and 5 milligrams (mg). It is prescribed primarily for patients who meet certain clinical criteria related to obesity and diabetes. Data suggests that both value and quantity sales of the 5 mg form more than doubled from April to May, outperforming the 2.5 mg dosage. Mounjaro 5 mg sales rose from 9,380 units in April (valued at ₹3.08 crore) to 22,940 units in May, valued at ₹7.53 crore. For the 2.5 mg form, demand growth was relatively muted — 19,350 units in May, up from 18,270 units in April. The sales value for May stood at ₹5.08 crore, up marginally from ₹4.8 crore the previous month. However, the steady growth in the 2.5 mg dosage indicates a consistent rise in new patients starting the drug. Patients typically begin treatment with the 2.5 mg dose, which is gradually escalated. 'The almost doubling of sales for the 5 mg form is because existing patients are upgrading to higher doses after four weeks, while new patients are also onboarding Mounjaro in good numbers,' said Sheetal Sapale, vice-president (commercial) at Pharmarack. Treatment with Mounjaro is typically initiated with the lowest available dosage (2.5 mg), administered subcutaneously once a week. 'This starting dose is usually maintained for the first four weeks to help the patient adjust and minimise potential side effects,' said Dr Sukhvinder Singh Saggu, director for minimal access, GI and bariatric surgery at CK Birla Hospital, Delhi. After this initial phase, the dose is commonly increased to 5 mg weekly, as weight-loss outcomes tend to be more pronounced at this level. Experts add that while the 2.5 mg dose helps initiate the process, many patients experience a plateau at that dosage, and shifting to 5 mg allows for more consistent and promising results. Doctors say inquiries for the drug have risen steadily, with Mounjaro now also being prescribed in select cases prior to bariatric surgery. Saggu said many new patients are actively inquiring about the drug, either as a new treatment option or as part of their ongoing weight management plans. 'Some of our existing patients, who were previously prescribed medications like Fenoglide, are now also being considered for Mounjaro as an alternative or add-on therapy,' he added. According to standard guidelines for obesity management medications (OMMs), a patient must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 27 with at least one obesity-related comorbidity, such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol. However, doctors are also receiving inquiries from individuals who do not meet the medical criteria. 'We are strictly discouraging its use for cosmetic purposes or in patients who do not meet the clinical threshold,' Saggu said.
Mint
7 hours ago
- Mint
Not Ozempic, in India THIS weigh-loss and diabetes drug from Eli Lilly sees sales jump 60% — what is it?
While rival Ozempic has made international headlines for its weightloss use, in India, sales of weight-loss and diabetes drug Mounjaro, manufactured by pharma giant Eli Lilly, has been the big winner. Largely due to first mover advantage, sales of Mounjaro jumped 60 per cent in May 2025, compared to the previous month, according to a Bloomberg report. Notably, May was the second full month that the tirzepatide injection drug has been available to patients in India, which has the third-highest number of obese people in the world, the report added. According to data from market analysis company Pharmarack Technologies, Eli Lilly sold $1.5 million or ₹ 12.6 crore worth of Mounjaro in India in May 2025. Further, sales of the the US drugmaker's 5 mg version have more than doubled to ₹ 7.5 crore, while revenue from the 2.5 mg version was ₹ 5.1 crore, the data showed. 'The patient number may have actually doubled in May from April. The demand is gradually rising and should continue. Newer patients are being introduced with the lower dose and upgraded to 5 mg injections after four weeks,' Sheetal Sapale, VP of Pharmarack told Bloomberg News. Eli Lilly's Mounjaro is a brand-name subcutaneous injection pen, chemically known as tirzepatide. It is a weekly injectable medication for obesity and type 2 diabetes. It has been approved for sale in India by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). Mounjaro is notable for its dual-action mechanism, targeting both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, which enhances its effectiveness in managing blood sugar levels. According to a report by Healthline, it works by helping your body to produce more insulin when needed. It also reduces the amount of glucose, or sugar, produced by the liver, and slows down how quickly food is digested. This all helps to lower blood sugar levels and HbA1c. It increases how sensitive your body is to insulin and signals your pancreas to make more insulin after you eat. Mounjaro weekly injection is priced at ₹ 4,375 ($50.67) for a 5 mg vial and ₹ 3,500 ($40.54) for a 2.5 mg vial, its lowest doses, the company told new agency Reuters. Its highest dose is 15 mg. A patient in India may have to spend about ₹ 14,000 to ₹ 17,500 (around $200) a month when taking a weekly dose of 5 mg, subject to doctor's prescription. Biocon on June 3 recieved approval to produce Novo Nordisk's celebrated type-2 diabetes and anti-obesity drug Victoza in India. Victoza is the Norweigian pharma giant's daily dose option for Ozempic, which is administered weekly. 'It's difficult to guide on exactly when Ozempic is coming to what countries,' Camilla Sylvest, executive vice president at Novo Nordisk, said at a briefing in March 2025, addressing a question on the brand's potential India launch. While Ozempic itself has not been launched in India, its patent is quickly approaching patent expiry in January 2026, and India's top generics players such as Cipla, Dr Reddy's and Sun Pharma (besides Biocon) are rushing to develop versions of GLP-1 drugs. The main difference between Mounjaro and Ozempic lies in their active ingredients. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which targets both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, while Ozempic contains semaglutide, which only targets GLP-1 receptors. According to Goldman Sachs, the market for GLP-1 drugs is expected to reach $100 billion by 2030. In India too, the market is considered to be vast, as the country has around 10 crore people living with diabetes and obesity each, Eli Lilly had said earlier this year. (With inputs from Agencies)
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
Weight-loss drug bulks up sales as patients upgrade dosage
Eli Lilly's weight-loss and diabetes drug, Mounjaro, has rapidly gained popularity in India, achieving Rs 24 crore in sales within three months. Young adults in their 30s and 40s are showing significant interest, with many upgrading to higher doses. While experts acknowledge its potential in addressing obesity, they caution about long-term efficacy, side effects, and affordability for the Indian population. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Mumbai: Sales of Mounjaro, Eli Lilly 's blockbuster weight-loss and diabetes drug, have touched Rs 24 crore within three months of its India launch, making it one of the most popular and fastest adopted new drugs in the country, with many people in their thirties and early forties showing sales grew 60% month on month to Rs 12.60 crore last month from Rs 7.87 crore in April, with the 5 mg injections accounting for Rs 7.53 crore—up 145% from Rs 3.08 crore in the previous month, data from industry tracker PharmaTrac showed. This indicates that patients are upgrading to higher doses after taking an initial base dose of 2.5 mg, experts doctors recommend a dose escalation to 5 mg after one month of starting the medication, depending on side effects. Mounjaro is currently available in 2.5 mg and 5 mg injections in India. Sales of 2.5 mg injections rose to Rs 5.08 crore in May from Rs 4.80 crore in April and Rs 1.42 crore in March, when it was launched, according to PharmaTrac data.'Our data indicates patients upgrading to higher dose after four weeks as well as new patients onboarding on lower dose,' said Sheetal Sapale, vice president, commercial, at endocrinologists said many people in their 30s and early 40s are reaching out to doctors to check if they could use the medication to lose weight.'There are many young people asking me if they could use the drug,' said Vyankatesh Shivane, diabetology and endocrinology consultant at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre in Mumbai. He said Indian patients are responding well to tirzepatide (Mounjaro).'Clinical trials conducted previously on Indian obese diabetes patients have shown good weight loss benefits at more than 20% as well as good sugar control,' Shivane said. 'Both semaglutide (Novo Nordisk's Wegovy) and tirzepatide have completed cardiovascular safety trials and have shown added benefits of reduction of cardiovascular events in Type 2 diabetes patients,' he drugmaker Novo Nordisk is expected to launch its blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy in India this year. Doctors said medications like Mounjaro and Wegovy could prove an actionable remedy in a country of 80 million obese they cautioned that it would take four to six months to assess their effect on a larger Indian population regarding actual weight loss efficacy, potential weight regain after stopping the medication, and side to Shivane, clinical trails have shown weight regain of 5-7% once the drug is stopped. 'That is where patients will need counselling in order to adopt a healthier lifestyle including healthy dietary habits and regular exercise,' he Kumar Sinha, consultant physician at Mumbai-based WeCare Wellness, said, 'The molecule is good. Global studies suggest there are patients who have benefitted from it, but there are also those who have dropped out due to side effects that are mostly gastrointestinal in nature.' Commonly reported side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal pain. Sinha said it will take 3-4 months to tell how the drug is working on Indian patients. 'One also has to look at the affordability issue,' he added. In India, Mounjaro is priced at Rs 3,500 for a 2.5 mg vial and Rs 4,375 for a 5 mg vial, which translates to Rs 14,000-17,500 per month, depending on the weekly dose. This means a six month treatment could cost about Rs 1 to a recent study published in leading medical journal Lancet, 70% of India's urban population is classified as obese, or overweight.'Obesity is like a pandemic in India and diabetes is very common and it is one of the useful drugs,' Anurag Lila, visiting consultant endocrinologist at Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital in Mumbai, told ET in a recent interaction.
