India’s New No. 1 Drug: How Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro Took the Top Spot
In October 2025, the U.S. drug-maker Eli Lilly and Company achieved a notable milestone in the Indian pharmaceutical market: its weekly injectable therapy Mounjaro became the highest-value drug in India for that month, generating approximately ₹1 billion (≈ US $11.4 million) in sales.
By contrast, the antibiotic Augmentin sold about ₹800 million in value in the same period, though by volume Augmentin sold far more units than Mounjaro.
What Mounjaro Does & Why It’s in Demand
Mounjaro is a once-weekly injectable treatment that acts as a dual-receptor agonist (targeting GIP and GLP-1) for patients with type 2 diabetes and/or obesity. It helps control blood sugar, slows digestion, and has the effect of increasing satiety (feeling of fullness).
The rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes in India gives Mounjaro a strong market opportunity. India is among the countries experiencing increasing rates of overweight/obesity and associated metabolic diseases.
Launch Timeline & Market Progress
Mounjaro was launched in India in March 2025.
By June and July 2025, monthly sales had already begun rising sharply, demonstrating rapid uptake.
In October 2025, Mounjaro’s cumulative revenue since launch reached approximately ₹3.33 billion.
Pricing & Product Formulation
Mounjaro is available in various dose strengths and delivery formats (vials and pre-filled pens). For example, early lower doses in India were quoted at Rs. 3,500 (2.5 mg vial) and Rs. 4,375 (5 mg vial) weekly. The more convenient pen devices (KwikPen) and higher doses carry higher pricing.
Market Implications & Competitor Landscape
Lilly’s success with Mounjaro comes ahead of its competitor Wegovy (by Novo Nordisk) which launched in India in June 2025 and is still building its penetration.
The surging demand underscores India’s strategic importance in the global weight-loss and diabetes therapeutic market, which analysts estimate could be worth up to US $150 billion annually in coming years.
Medical & Healthcare Considerations
The use of GLP-1 and GIP agonist therapies like Mounjaro marks a shift in how obesity and type 2 diabetes are increasingly treated and not just with lifestyle change but with advanced pharmacotherapy.
Availability in a major market such as India may increase access, yet cost, long-term safety, patient monitoring, and integration with lifestyle interventions remain important factors.
Clinicians must monitor glycaemic control, weight change, gastrointestinal side-effects, and overall metabolic outcomes when prescribing such agents.
While medications like Mounjaro offer powerful tools, they are not standalone cures, they work best when paired with diet, exercise and medical supervision.
Summary
In October 2025, Mounjaro achieved a landmark by becoming India’s top-value selling drug, reflecting the strong demand for obesity and diabetes treatments in the country. Its rapid uptake, premium pricing model and strategic positioning in India signal the evolving landscape of metabolic disease therapy. As this market continues to mature, both opportunities and challenges for healthcare systems, patients and pharma companies grow.
(Rh/TL)
