In March this 12 months, U.S. pharma large Eli Lilly And Co LLY introduced the launch of its in style weight reduction drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) in India, which is predicted to have the second-largest inhabitants of obese or overweight individuals by 2050.
In keeping with the Indian Council of Medical Analysis (ICMR), there are 101 million individuals with diabetes in India. Of those, at the very least 40 million are on remedy.
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In keeping with a Reuters survey, the launch of Mounjaro in India has sparked a surge in affected person curiosity, with some medical doctors receiving tons of of calls concerning the drug. The survey included 18 medical doctors, sufferers, and weight-loss clinic operators.
“Since Mounjaro got here out, we’ve seen an enormous leap in buyer curiosity,” mentioned Suryansh Kumar, founding father of Elevate Now, a weight administration firm, to Reuters.
Reuters cited his social media publish that Elevate Now acquired over 200 calls in only one week concerning the drug.
Manipal Hospitals in Bengaluru has reported a greater than 20% rise in affected person inquiries about weight-loss medicines, in keeping with endocrinologist Abhijit Bhograj.
The rising curiosity is prompting some medical doctors to advise sufferers to be taught extra about these medication earlier than speeding to get them.
A Hyderabad-based bariatric surgeon obtained over 100 calls in simply two days after asserting the supply of Mounjaro.
Reuters notes that Indian sufferers now not have to rely on the black marketplace for weight-loss medication now that the therapy is on the market domestically.
Dr. Muffazal Lakdawala, director of surgical procedure at Sir H.N. Reliance Basis Hospital, instructed Reuters that switching to Eli Lilly’s authorized drug may price sufferers lower than half of what they have been paying on the black market.
Earlier this month, two sources instructed Reuters that Novo Nordisk A/S’ NVO is making an attempt to maneuver up the launch of Wegovy in India to higher compete with Lilly.
Lakdawala additionally mentioned Eli Lilly can have an early lead over Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy. Wegovy comprises semaglutide, the identical ingredient as its diabetes drug Ozempic—a medicine usually used off-label for weight reduction.
Lakdawala instructed Reuters that many sufferers utilizing Ozempic have now switched to Mounjaro as a result of it’s simpler to get in India.
Novo can also have to cost Wegovy extra competitively in India. Mounjaro, a once-weekly injection authorized by India’s drug regulator, is priced at 4,375 Indian rupees ($50.86) for a 5 mg vial and three,500 rupees for a 2.5 mg vial, its lowest dose, the corporate instructed Reuters.
A affected person in India might must spend about $200 a month when taking a weekly dose of 5 mg, topic to physician’s prescription.
Lilly has an early lead in India with Mounjaro, however that benefit could also be short-lived. In 2026, the patent for semaglutide will expire in India, opening the door for competitors. Main generic drugmakers like Cipla, Dr. Reddy’s, Lupin, Natco Pharma, Mankind Pharma, and Biocon are getting ready to launch lower-cost variations of Ozempic. On the similar time, Solar Pharmaceutical can be growing its GLP-1 therapy.
Vishal Manchanda, SVP of institutional analysis at Systematix Group, told Livemint that even when 0.5% of 40 million use Mounjaro, it could fetch gross sales of $1.5 billion for Eli Lilly yearly.
Value Motion: LLY inventory is up 0.22% at $755.98 on the final examine on Tuesday.
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