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News18
3 days ago
- Health
- News18
81,000 Vials, Rs 24 Crore In 3 Months: Weight Loss Drug Mounjaro Sales Triple As Patients Shift To Higher Dose
With three months since its launch in India, according to latest Pharmatrac data, Mounjaro clocked Rs 12.6 crore in sales in May 2025—a threefold increase from March In a sign of rising adoption, sales of Mounjaro—the breakthrough weight loss and type 2 diabetes drug—have nearly tripled in the last two months, data shows. American drugmaker Eli Lilly launched Mounjaro in India on March 20, triggering immediate frenzy, especially among those looking to achieve weight loss and glucose control. Doctors told News18 they were flooded with requests from patients eager to start Mounjaro or learn more about its benefits. With three months since its launch in India, according to latest Pharmatrac data, Mounjaro clocked Rs 12.6 crore in sales in May 2025—a threefold increase from March. The higher dosage form of five milligram, in particular, more than doubled in value and quantity sales between April and May, indicating a strong trend of patient progression to the next stage of treatment. As per the medical protocol, patients start with lower dosage of 2.5 milligram weekly dose and upgrade to 5 milligram after four weeks. 'This clinical shift is clearly reflected in market numbers. Five mg pack sales jumped from Rs 3.08 crore in April to Rs 7.53 crore in May, while unit sales rose from over 9,300 to over 22,900," Sheetal Sapale, vice-president (commercial), Pharmatrac, told News18. 'Looking at these trends and the acceptance of this therapy—by physicians as well as patients—along with the affordable pricing of Rs 18,000 to Rs 22,000 per month dosage indicates a definite pick up in consumption." The total market for Mounjaro has reached Rs 23.94 crore over the past three months, selling more than 81,000 vials of the drug—signalling growing adoption in diabetes care protocols. According to Dr Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis C-DOC Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology, clinical use of Mounjaro in India closely reflects the trends observed in the data. 'A substantial number of patients are being initiated at 2.5 mg, with a timely escalation to 5 mg in line with recommended protocols. This pattern suggests good tolerability and early clinical efficacy in glycemic control and weight reduction." Misra told News18: 'With growing familiarity and broader access, increased use of higher doses (7.5 mg and above) is likely, especially in patients requiring enhanced metabolic outcomes." The injectable drug is approved by India's apex drug regulatory body, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection priced at Rs 4,375 for a 5 mg vial and Rs 3,500 for a 2.5 mg vial, making the monthly expenditure around Rs 14,000-Rs 17,500. The drug is claimed to be 80 per cent cheaper than in the United States. Entry-Level Dosage Sales Plateau Mounjaro, the brand name for Tirzepatide, a once-weekly injectable, is a first-in-class medication that combines the effects of two naturally occurring hormones: GIP (Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide) and GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1). Data shows that the 2.5mg dose of Mounjaro—generally prescribed as the starting regimen for type 2 diabetes patients or those looking to shed weight—has shown signs of 'plateauing growth". This trend confirms a gradual shift to higher doses. The sales value for the 2.5 mg injection rose marginally from Rs 4.80 crore in April to Rs 5.08 crore in May, after a steeper increase from Rs 1.42 crore in March. The data shows that the unit sales also reflect this trend, increasing from 5,400 in March to 18,270 in April, but only marginally to 19,350 in May. While the 2.5 mg variant remains essential for entry-level patient initiation, its month-on-month growth may continue to taper off as the patient base matures and advances to the next phase of dosing.
The Print
02-06-2025
- Health
- The Print
Big pharma pivoting to more lucrative obesity segment, Indian drugmakers eye insulin market
Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into cells to stop it from building up in the bloodstream. Patients with type 1 diabetes or advanced type 2 diabetes need to administer insulin, typically multiple times a day, in order to keep their blood sugar in a healthy range. Now, with a number of Indian drugmakers foraying into the insulin market in the country once dominated by multinational drugmakers—Big Pharma, its cost is expected to dip further. New Delhi: Insulin, a lifeline for nearly all patients with type 1 diabetes and nearly 10 percent of those with type 2 diabetes, is available in India at an average cost of Rs 133 per vial—among the cheapest in the world. With the country seeing a near explosion of diabetes, the size of India's insulin market stood at an estimated Rs 4,404 crore in April this year, according to Pharmatrac, a market research company that tracks the Indian drug market. Its April report, the latest, which ThePrint has seen, said, 'Indian players are making a steady entry in the Insulins market that was once dominated by MNCs'. Four Indian companies have launched various insulin brands in India over the last two years in the segment where multinationals such as Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Company and Sanofi have ruled the roost, according to Pharmatrac statistics. It added that with innovator companies like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk increasingly focusing on the anti-obesity segment (Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy), it opens 'doors of opportunity for the Indian players' to expand their footprint. According to data from the Pharmatrac report, of over 90 insulin brands available in the Indian market, 14 have a collective market share of more than 80 percent. Of these, 11 are owned by either Novo Nordisk, which has a tie-up with Abbott for marketing them in India, or Sanofi, while one brand, Huminsulin by US-based pharma giant Eli Lilly, was sold to Indian drugmaker Lupin last year. The two best-selling insulin brands in the country include Mixtard and Ryzodeg, both by Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk. Mixtard alone has a market of over Rs 800 crore in India. The only Indian company, which has two brands among the top-selling 14 insulin brands, is Ahmedabad-based Eris Lifesciences. Indian companies that have entered the segment since 2023 include USV, Anthem Biopharma, Cadila and Mankind. Additionally, Cipla, following a strategic tie-up with Eli Lilly, launched its insulin drug, Lyumjev, in India in October 2023. Pharmatrac statistics also showed that Indian companies, which include Eris Lifesciences, Cipla and Mankind, apart from Lupin, sold insulin worth Rs 1,088 crore between April 2024 and April 2025—24.7 percent of the total insulin market. However, as of now, a large number of diabetics in need of insulin still cannot access or afford the new generation versions that are more convenient to use, and most new brands being launched in India have yet to address this issue. Also Read: Fat-busting drug Mounjaro launched in India. Here's how much it will cost Further price crashes expected In 2023, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Madras Diabetes Research Foundation estimated that nearly 101 million people in India had diabetes. It is suggested that while the majority with the condition have type 2 diabetes, the number of those with type 1 is also estimated to be around 9 lakh, and this includes a large number of those under 18 years of age. Type 1 diabetes, say experts, is characterised by complete loss of the insulin-producing beta cells due to an autoimmune disease or idiopathic (unknown) reasons. Type 2 diabetes, also called diabetes mellitus, on the other hand, is mainly triggered by insulin resistance or the body's inability to respond to insulin, often combined with relatively reduced insulin secretion and is linked with lifestyle issues such as poor dietary habits and lack of physical activity. Nearly 10 percent of patients with type 2 diabetes, mainly those in the advanced or severe stage of the condition, require insulin, but for all patients with type 1 diabetes, insulin is mandatory, mostly 3-4 times a day Type 1 diabetes is growing at a rate of 6.7 percent annually in India, compared to 4.4 percent for type 2 diabetes, the latest Pharmatrac report noted. Diabetologist and researcher Dr V. Mohan underlined that the exact reason why the number of people with type 1 diabetes is growing may not be properly understood, but it could also be due to better awareness about the condition and quicker diagnosis. 'Earlier, many with type 1 diabetes used to die within years of disease onset as they did not get insulin on time, but now they are living longer, and those with type 2 diabetes, after living with the condition for years, typically need insulin,' he said. This is why, the clinician-researcher said, the insulin segment is growing rapidly in the country. Adding, 'More competition is always good because that will help to keep up the quality of the product and also bring down the price of the insulin.' Industry insiders said the trend of Indian firms entering the segment was mainly prompted by expiration of patents on key insulin analogues and rapid global adoption of GLP-1 analogues like semaglutide and tirzepatide, used for diabetes and obesity management 'With diabetes now recognised as a national health priority, domestic companies are investing in biosimilar innovation, scaling production capabilities, and forming strategic collaborations to secure insulin supply for the domestic market,' said Saransh Chaudhary, president (global critical care) of research-driven pharma company Venus Remedies. Innovative therapy, devices for diabetics Till the 70s the insulin used by those in need was derived from animals like pigs and cows, while the 80s saw the advent of human insulin, a type of synthetic insulin made in a laboratory that mimics the insulin our body makes. Over the last 15-20 years, insulin analogues, which are more convenient and quicker to act, have been in use in developed countries. This type of medicine is made in the same way as human insulin but is genetically altered to change the way it acts in the body. More expensive than human insulin, insulin analogues have a different chemical structure and are designed to act more rapidly, within 5-10 minutes of administration and for a longer time of up to 40 hours, ensuring ease in diabetes care. These often come in specifically designed devices such as pre-filled pens that are simply administered through a click, instead of most human insulins in vials that have to be administered as an injection. However, as these formulations are not part of the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and are costlier—typically costing Rs 10,000-15,000 per month—most Indian diabetics in need of insulin therapy cannot afford them. As of now, only some basic formulations of insulin are on the NLEM, whose upper price ceilings are fixed by the government. Once protected by patent, as some of them are now off-patent, their biosimilar versions—just like generics in case of small molecule drugs—have now hit the Indian market, and it could change the affordability issue, underlined Dr Manisha Arora, director, internal Medicine at the CK Birla Hospital. 'The entry of multiple pharmaceutical companies into this space reflects the segment's growth potential and the opportunity to enhance treatment outcomes through competitive pricing and technological advancements,' she said. Increased competition could spur further innovation, improve patient-centric delivery systems, and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable diabetes care ecosystem, Arora added. (Edited by Sanya Mathur) Also Read: ICMR-led consortium seeks health tax on fat, sugar & salt-rich foods to cut adolescent obesity burden
