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Anti-obesity mkt heats up as Mounjaro's Kwikpen version gets India approval
The race to gain an upper hand in India's weight-loss market is heating up, with Eli Lilly receiving market authorisation from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to sell its weight-loss drug Mounjaro in a prefilled Kwikpen presentation.
The drug, launched in March this year, was until now available only in vials rather than a ready-to-use pen. This announcement from the US-based pharmaceutical giant comes just a day after Danish firm Novo Nordisk launched Wegovy in the Indian market.
India has the third-highest number of people living with overweight and obesity. According to the India Diabetes (INDIAB) study, the country has 254 million people with generalised obesity and 351 million with abdominal obesity.
The anti-obesity market, while limited, has seen a surge in India in recent times.
According to data from market research firm Pharmarack, sales of Mounjaro rose 60 per cent in May—its second full month since launch. The drug recorded value sales worth ₹12.61 crore in May, compared to ₹7.88 crore in April.
Wegovy is expected to be available in pharmacies across India by the end of June 2025.
Mounjaro is currently available in just two dose strengths—2.5 mg and 5 mg—priced between ₹14,000 and ₹17,500 per month. In contrast, Wegovy will be available in five dose strengths—0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg—at a monthly price of ₹17,345–26,050.
Like Mounjaro, Wegovy follows a gradual dose-escalation protocol to minimise gastrointestinal side effects and improve tolerability. 'Patients typically begin with a 0.25 mg dose of semaglutide once weekly for four weeks, followed by incremental increases every month until reaching the maintenance dose of 2.4 mg,' an official said.
Officials at Lilly indicated that with the introduction of the Kwikpen version, Mounjaro will soon be available in six dose strengths (one more than Wegovy): 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg.
'With this approval, all six dosage options for Mounjaro (tirzepatide) will soon be available in India, supporting a more personalised approach to treatment and allowing healthcare professionals to tailor care based on individual patient needs and clinical goals,' said Winselow Tucker, president and general manager at Lilly India.
Commenting on the growing competition, Sukhvinder Singh Saggu, director for Minimal Access, GI and Bariatric Surgery at CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, said that the entry of global pharmaceutical giants such as Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk into India's obesity market will likely drive innovation, improve accessibility, and potentially bring down costs over time.
'With both Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) showing promising clinical outcomes, the increased options could encourage broader adoption of medical interventions for obesity, which has long been under-treated in India,' he added.
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In battle for Indian anti-obesity market, Eli Lilly's pre-filled pen on one side, Novo Nordisk's on other
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has granted marketing authorisation for Mounjaro in the KwikPen presentation, Eli Lilly said in a statement Thursday, adding that the approval marks an important step in advancing care for people living with type 2 diabetes and obesity in India. Mounjaro by US-based Eli Lilly & Company, which has tirzepatide as its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), was launched in India on 20 March this year in vial format, which meant it was more cumbersome to administer. New Delhi: Eli Lilly India, makers of the obesity drug Mounjaro, said Thursday that they have received approvals from the Indian regulator for their pre-filled pen, a day after competitor Novo Nordisk's global mega-selling drug for obesity, Wegovy, hit the Indian markets. The pens offer a convenient way for patients to take their medication. First developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes in lower doses, both Mounjaro and Wegovy are weekly injections intended to dramatically reduce weight in obese patients. They have emerged as global sensations in the pharmaceutical market world over, with their sales reaching multi-billion-dollar figures. These drugs have also been fighting to dominate the obesity management space in many developed countries. They are now aiming to capture a share of the market in India, where obesity is growing rapidly, driven by changing dietary and lifestyle patterns. India's anti-obesity drug market is currently valued at Rs 3,000-3,500 crore, and is projected to grow nearly eightfold to Rs 25,000 crore by 2030, according to market estimates. A 2023 survey by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) had shown that 25.4 crore Indians, or 28.6 percent, of the population had generalised obesity. Obesity, now recognised as a chronic, relapsing disease, is a major risk factor for diabetes and is linked to over 200 health complications, including hypertension, dyslipidemia or high blood cholesterol, coronary heart disease, and obstructive sleep apnea. Also Read: Fat-busting drug Mounjaro launched in India. Here's how much it will cost Promise of simplified treatment KwikPen, or Mounjaro, is a multi-dose, prescription-based, single-patient-use pre-filled pen designed for once-weekly administration, the company said. It also added that the full range of doses for Mounjaro—2.5 mg to 15 mg—will be available in India soon, supporting personalised treatment as recommended by treating physicians. Earlier, the vial format of the drug was launched in only two dosage strengths—2.5 mg and 5 mg—in the country. The latest announcement came after Wegovy, which has semaglutide as its API, got a strategic launch in India as an innovative, easy-to-use pre-filled pen called FlexTouch devices. It was aimed at stealing the thunder Mounjaro had by reaching Indian patients first. A less potent version of semaglutide, in the form of an oral pill-under the brand name of Rybelsus, has been available in India since 2022 for the treatment of diabetes. The Wegovy pre-filled pen has been launched in five dosing strengths: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg. While the monthly cost of the first three dosages is Rs 17,345, the higher doses will cost Rs 24,280 and Rs 26,050, respectively. Mounjaro, in the vial format, was launched at a cost of Rs 14,000 (for 2.5 mg) and Rs 17,500. Eli Lilly, however, has yet to decide the price of the Mounjaro KwikPen for all five dosages. Meanwhile, experts ThePrint spoke to said pre-filled pens will simplify treatment, making these powerful anti-obesity and diabetes medications more convenient for patients. 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In May this year, Lilly said in a statement that a head-to-head clinical trial comparing tirzepatide and semaglutide in their maximum tolerable doses showed the former to be significantly more effective than the latter in reducing both weight and waist circumference after 72 weeks of treatment. According to the US-based pharma giant, participants administered tirzepatide saw an average weight reduction of 20.2 percent, while those on semaglutide experienced a 13.7 percent loss—indicating a 47 percent greater relative weight loss for the former, based on the treatment regimen estimated at 72 weeks. But one advantage that semaglutide has in the higher dose strength is its ability to also treat several other metabolic conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases and kidney disorders. While Mounjaro is better than Wegovy in percentage of weight loss, there is stronger evidence in the case of Wegovy for reducing cardiovascular conditions in obese people without diabetes and also for treating kidney and diabetes, experts said. During the launch of Wegovy on 24 June, Novo Nordisk underlined that the drug is the only medication approved in India for treating major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), along with obesity. Diabetologist Kovil said, 'If there is an obese patient who does not have other major underlying issues yet, I will be more inclined towards prescribing Mounjaro.' He added that, in patients with comorbidities such as diabetes, liver or kidney disorder or cardiovascular condition, Wegovy could be a better choice as it reduces mortality and improves longevity. In response to queries by ThePrint, Eli Lilly said that Mounjaro offers a novel approach to metabolic health management, giving treating physicians an innovative option for treating both diabetes and obesity. 'Ultimately, it is up to physicians to determine the most appropriate treatment based on individual patient needs and clinical judgment,' said the drugmaker. According to Dr Ambrish Mithal, chairman and head, endocrinology and diabetes with Max Healthcare, anti-obesity drugs can be indicated for people with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 and above in the absence of other comorbidities. However, in people with other pre-existing conditions, either of the drugs can be initiated at a BMI of 27 and above, in conjunction with diet, lifestyle changes and under expert supervision, he said. Experts also warn about the possible side effects of GLP-1 agonist drugs amid concerns around misuse of these drugs in India, given the regulatory loopholes which allow patients to access most prescription drugs over the counter. Large clinical trials and post-marketing evidence following use of these medicines have shown that while nausea, bloating, vomiting and diarrhoea are comparatively mild side effects of these medications. In rare cases, they can also cause stomach paralysis, a disorder that affects the normal movement of the stomach muscles. In a response to queries by ThePrint, Eli Lilly emphasised that Mounjaro is a prescription-only drug and should be taken strictly under a doctor's supervision. 'Tirzepatide is not approved for, and should not be used for, cosmetic weight loss or by individuals under 18. Lilly neither promotes nor encourages the unapproved use of tirzepatide by anyone,' the company said. 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