With 100 million overweight, Lilly plans broader India access for obesity drug Mounjaro

Mounjaro demand rises in India: Eli Lilly eyes deeper expansion amid GLP-1 boom

• Lilly to expand Mounjaro access in India due to high demand
• Mounjaro requires medical supervision, not for cosmetic use.
• India may become a major GLP-1 market as adoption rises

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Eli Lilly plans to expand access to its obesity and diabetes drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) across India as demand for GLP‑1 medicines accelerates, President and General Manager for Lilly India, Winslow Tucker, said at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit on Friday. Tucker said the company’s priority is to scale availability, build awareness and ensure responsible use of the drug as obesity rises sharply nationwide.

Mounjaro, launched in India in March last year, has seen strong uptake, reflecting a broader shift in how obesity is being treated. “Obesity is a major health concern in India. Nearly 100 million people are living with obesity or overweight,” Tucker said, adding that it is directly linked to cardiovascular disease and other serious complications. He stressed that new prescription‑based, evidence‑backed medicines are expanding options for patients when used alongside diet, exercise and lifestyle changes. “This is really changing the outcomes of patients,” he said.

Tucker called the rising use of GLP‑1 medicines a meaningful step forward for chronic disease care. He noted that India could see faster adoption as more companies enter the market following the expected launch of generic semaglutide later this year.

“I think that will increase potentially the access to the GLP‑1s, and I think that can be a good thing, given the unmet need,” he said. However, he clarified that Lilly does not expect generic versions of Mounjaro anytime soon because of ongoing patent protection.

He repeatedly emphasized that Mounjaro must be used under medical supervision. “These are prescription drugs that should be administered under the care of a healthcare professional,” Tucker said, adding that the company does not support cosmetic or unsupervised use. Healthcare providers, he noted, can screen patients for potential adverse events and monitor long‑term management.

On safety, Tucker said real‑world evidence from India has been consistent with global clinical‑trial data. “Millions of patients have been treated around the world… To date, what we have seen is a profile that is consistent with what’s been in clinical trials,” he said, adding that Lilly continues to collect and report adverse‑event data.

Tucker also highlighted the company’s efforts to reduce stigma by reframing obesity as a disease. “Obesity should be seen as a disease. When it is seen as a disease, we treat it as we do other non‑communicable diseases,” he said. Lilly’s “We Now Know” campaign aims to promote early diagnosis and encourage people to seek medical guidance instead of delaying care.

Although it is too early to quantify the impact, Tucker said the increased use of GLP‑1 medicines in India suggests that patients now have additional treatment options beyond lifestyle changes alone. He acknowledged that stopping treatment can lead to weight regain - “If you do stop, weight will come back over time.” Lilly is studying maintenance therapies, oral formulations and next‑generation medicines to support long‑term patient needs.

Looking ahead, Tucker said Lilly is “very focused on continuing to scale our reach across India.” A partnership with Cipla aims to expand access beyond major urban centers. Pricing decisions, he said, will continue to reflect “the value that we believe it provides to individuals… and society overall.”

Tucker said GLP‑1 uptake is rising globally, driven by lifestyle changes and growing obesity prevalence. India, he noted, is still in early stages but could soon become one of the largest GLP‑1 markets in the world.