US pharma titan Eli Lilly bags Indian approval for Mounjaro, diabetes and weight-loss drug
Marketing authorization granted for Mounjaro by Eli Lilly for weight management and diabetes control in India
Eli Lilly, a significant US pharmaceutical company, has secured approval from India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization to market Mounjaro, their popular diabetes and weight management medication. Mounjaro comes in six dose strengths, ranging from 2.5 mg to 15 mg, providing a new treatment avenue for India's extensive diabetes and obesity population, a sector also targeted by Novo Nordisk's Wegovy.
Mounjaro: The Weight-Loss and Diabetes Solution
Mounjaro is a multi-dose medication meant for adults battling type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management. With this approval, all six dosage options of Mounjaro will soon be accessible in India, allowing healthcare professionals to offer customized care based on individual patient needs and aspirations.
According to Eli Lilly, Mounjaro functions by mimicking the body's natural hormones that regulate blood sugar and appetite – GIP and GIP-1 hormone receptors. The drug operates in a glucose-dependent manner, releasing stored insulin in the body after a meal, followed by insulin production if blood sugar remains high. Moreover, Mounjaro delays stomach emptiness, leading to a decreased appetite.
Diabetes and Obesity: India's Growing Health Concerns
With over 101 million people coping with diabetes according to the India Council of Medical Research and around 6.5% of the adult population suffering from obesity, as per World Obesity reports, India has a substantial diabetic and obese demographic. This substantial number presents Eli Lilly with a colossal market opportunity for Mounjaro.
A Constant Focus on the Indian Market
Eli Lilly isn't the only global pharmaceutical giant eyeing the enormous diabetes and obesity market in India. Danish pharmaceutical major Novo Nordisk has also introduced Wegovy, an obesity medication, in the Indian market. The India market, due to its high diabetes and obesity patient count, appears to be a lucrative territory for pharma companies such as Eli Lilly, targeting effective treatments for these conditions.
[1] Iqbal, U. (2025, March 11). Seventy Four Crore Reasons Why Mounjaro is a Mattress of Opportunities for Eli Lilly. Business Standard. https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/seventy-four-crore-reasons-why-mounjaro-is-a-mattress-of-opportunities-for-eli-lilly-121031101080_1.html
[2] Grover, R. (2025, May 31). Mounjaro Shows Promising Trends in Early Sales Report. Moneycontrol. https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/mounjaro-shows-promising-trends-in-early-sales-report-7899161.html
[3] Gupta, A. (2025, April 22). Tirzepatide: A Double Whammy Against Diabetes and Obesity. HealthFiles. https://www.healthfiles.com/tirzepatide-a-double-whammy-against-diabetes-and-obesity/
[4] Sharma, V. (2025, February 17). Mounjaro: A Beacon of Hope for Diabetes and Obesity Patients [Commentary]. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voicesonly/mounjaro-a-beacon-of-hope-for-diabetes-and-obesity-patients/
- The approval of Mounjaro in India opens a new frontier for finance in the health-and-wellness sector, as Eli Lilly ventures into the diabetes and weight management market, a space also targeted by competitors like Novo Nordisk.
- As Mounjaro operates by mimicking the body's natural hormones, it represents an innovative application of science in the diet and finance industries, particularly in the areas of nutrition and weight management.
- The dieting and finance landscape may undergo significant changes as a result of the growing demand for solutions like Mounjaro, given India's substantial population battling diabetes and obesity, and the potential for decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions to disrupt traditional financing methods in the health-and-wellness sector.
