US biotech major Eli Lilly has taken a commanding lead in India’s fast-emerging weight-loss drug market with its blockbuster drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide), outpacing rival Novo Nordisk to quickly become the market leader in the category, helped by a strong clinical performance and an early entry advantage.
“Mounjaro is ruling the roost,” said Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman and Head of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Max Healthcare. “Wegovy has picked up, but patients are asking for maximum weight loss; that's where Mounjaro has a slight advantage,” he added.
The numbers back this up, which show that since launch in March 2025, diabetes drug Mounjaro’s monthly sales soared to an estimated Rs 80 crore by September, making it the second-highest selling pharmaceutical brand in India after GSK’s Augmentin, according to Pharmarack, which tracks Indian Pharmaceutical Market (IPM) data.
In comparison, Wegovy (semaglutide), which had entered the market in June 2025, posted a monthly sale of around Rs 9 crore during the same period, showed Pharmarack data.
Cumulatively, Mounjaro has racked up Rs 233 crore in sales while Wegovy has generated Rs 28 crore so far, according to Pharmarack. Both drugs are widely available with no reported supply shortages.
Emails sent to Lilly and Novo Nordisk had not received responses at the time of publishing of this story.
Costly Cures
Both Mounjaro and Wegovy are expensive medications. The monthly price for Mounjaro in India ranges from Rs 13,125-25,781 per month while Wegovy costs between approximately Rs 17,345-26,050 per month, depending on the prescribed dosage. Some snalysts believe Mounjaro’s actual sales could be significantly higher.
“We only capture the sales done by chemists. Mounjaro sales could be as high as around Rs 400 crore if direct sales to doctors and patients are accounted,” Sheetal Sapale, Vice President with Pharmarack told Moneycontrol.
Both Mounjaro and Wegovy come in per weekly injection form.
Lilly is also expanding its reach aggressively and has partnered with Indian pharma major Cipla, allowing it to market tirzepatide under a second brand name, Yurpeak. This move also taps into Cipla’s extensive distribution network to help the drug reach beyond metro cities where Lilly’s own sales force is concentrated.
“We don't differentiate between Wegovy and Mounjaro. Both are powerful weight-loss drugs and have similar side effects, such as nausea,” said Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, Director of General & Minimal Access Surgery at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital.
“Mounjaro has a first-mover advantage and also a slight edge in weight loss,” he added.
Lakdawala also said that patients typically begin to see noticeable weight changes within three months, though results can vary.
Explaining the difference in efficacy, Dr Mithal of Max Healthcare said, “While semaglutide (Wegovy) offers weight reduction of 15-18 percent in 6-12 months, Mounjaro offers 20 percent weight loss,” he said, adding that individual results may vary.
Mounjaro’s appeal lies in its dual-action mechanism. Unlike Wegovy, which mimics a single appetite-regulating hormone (GLP-1), Mounjaro targets both GLP-1 and GIP.
Weight Loss Comparisons
Mounjaro’s dual-action has translated into better clinical outcomes. In the global SURMOUNT-5 trial, patients administered Eli Lilly’s drug lost an average of 20.9-22.8 percent of their body weight, compared to 13.7-15 percent for Wegovy patients.
Still, Wegovy has its own strengths. Novo Nordisk is promoting its SELECT trial, which showed Wegovy significantly reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes - a key selling point in India, where cardiovascular disease is widespread.
The competition is far from over, and Novo Nordisk - with its deep roots in India’s diabetes market - is expected to fight hard for market share.
Meanwhile, the monthly cost of the 5 mg vial is expected to come down by about Rs 1,096 a month to approximately Rs 16,404. Similarly, 2.5 mg vial monthly cost is expected to decline by about Rs 876, further improving accessibility of the drugs.
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