Eli Lilly’s weight-loss injection records ₹80 crore in September sales, trailing only Augmentin
Mounjaro Surges to No. 2 in Indian Pharma Market
Just six months after its launch, Eli Lilly’s weight-loss and diabetes drug Mounjaro has become the second-highest selling pharmaceutical product in India, recording ₹80 crore in sales in September 2025.
The only drug ahead of it is GSK’s antibiotic Augmentin, with ₹85 crore in sales, according to the latest Indian Pharmaceutical Market (IPM) data.
Mounjaro’s cumulative sales have now reached ₹233 crore, marking a dramatic rise in India’s growing market for anti-obesity and chronic care treatments.
What Is Mounjaro?
- Generic Name: Tirzepatide
- Function: Weekly injectable drug for type 2 diabetes and weight loss
- How it works: Mimics two gut hormones – GLP-1 and GIP – to regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite
- Weight Loss Efficacy: Clinical trials show 20–22% average body weight reduction
India’s Fastest-Rising Drug
- Launch Date: Late March 2025
- August Sales: ₹56 crore
- September Sales: ₹80 crore (43% growth in 1 month)
- Growth Drivers:
- Introduction of Kwikpen (pre-filled disposable injection pen)
- Strong physician endorsement
- Patient-friendly delivery and dosing options
- Awareness campaigns around prescription-based weight loss
- GST cut from 18% to 5% (effective September 22), reducing prices significantly
Current Kwikpen Prices (Post-GST Cut):
- 5 mg dose: Now ₹16,404/month (↓ ₹1,096)
- 2.5 mg dose: Now ₹13,824/month (↓ ₹876)
A New Rivalry in the Weight-Loss Drug Market
Eli Lilly’s rapid success is being closely followed by rival Novo Nordisk, which launched Wegovy—another weight-loss injection—in June. Wegovy has already entered the top 40 pharma brands in India.
Analysts predict fierce competition between Mounjaro and Wegovy in India’s ₹1,000+ crore emerging weight-loss therapeutics market.
Changing Trends in India’s Healthcare Consumption
Mounjaro’s success is a reflection of a larger shift:
- Growing acceptance of prescription weight-loss medications
- Declining reliance on supplements and crash diets
- Rising awareness of obesity and metabolic health
- Pharma sector responding with innovation, targeted marketing, and easier-to-use drug delivery formats
