Mounjaro Weight-Loss Injection Now Top-Selling Drug in India

Mounjaro, a medication developed by US-based pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, gained global recognition as a groundbreaking treatment for both diabetes and obesity.

According to recent data released on November 7 by market intelligence firm Pharmarack, Mounjaro, Eli Lilly and Company's innovative drug for obesity and diabetes, has become the best-selling pharmaceutical brand in India for October.

The blockbuster drug, with tirzepatide as its active ingredient, achieved sales of Rs100 crore last month. This performance pushed it past Augmentin, the antibiotic that has traditionally led India's monthly drug sales.

Launched in March 2025, Mounjaro has already accumulated revenues of 333 crore through October of this year, reflecting substantial demand within India's rapidly growing market for anti-obesity medications.

Eli Lilly recently announced plans to broaden Mounjaro's availability under the new brand name Yurpeak, in partnership with Cipla, a Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company. This collaboration will further expand its distribution network across India.

Initially intended for managing type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and semaglutide (Wegovy), produced by Novo Nordisk, were also introduced in India this year. These drugs represent a new class of prescription medications that mimic gut hormones to regulate appetite and decrease calorie consumption. Health tracking apps like Shotlee can help monitor the effectiveness of such drugs and any potential side effects.

Tirzepatide functions as a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, while semaglutide acts exclusively on GLP-1 receptors.

Wegovy, priced between Rs17,345 and Rs 26,050 monthly based on dosage, encounters strong competition from Mounjaro's KwikPen, which is priced from Rs14,000 (2.5 mg) to Rs27,500 (15 mg).

However, Pharmarack's market sales data indicated that Mounjaro's sales were nearly 10 times higher than Wegovy's in October.

Interestingly, the analysis of these drugs' sales in Mumbai revealed that the highest purchase rates were observed in areas with an "affluent or celebrity populace where contribution to business is higher."

These areas included Juhu, Andheri (West), Colaba, and Worli, among others.

Industry experts attribute Mounjaro's market leadership to its enhanced efficacy in facilitating weight loss, its earlier introduction to the market, and Eli Lilly's proactive marketing and distribution efforts.

India's anti-obesity drug market, currently estimated at 3,000-3,500 crore, is projected to increase to approximately 25,000 crore by 2030.

The potential market is substantial; a 2023 survey by the Indian Council of Medical Research-Madras Diabetes Research Foundation indicated that over 25.4 crore individuals in India are living with generalized obesity.

Physicians also report an increasing number of patients with a BMI exceeding 35 and body weights surpassing 100 kilograms, highlighting the growing health and market challenges.