Weight-loss drug Mounjaro is India's second-highest selling pharma brand

Mounjaro

Eli Lilly’s anti-obesity and diabetes drug Mounjaro emerged as the second-largest brand in the Indian pharma market in September, barely six months after its launch, as demand for weight-loss therapies sees a dramatic growth in the country.

With Rs 80 crore in monthly sales and a cumulative revenue of Rs 233 crore, the drug is reshaping the competitive landscape for chronic therapies, according to the Indian Pharmaceutical Market (IPM) data.

Mounjaro sales grew 43 percent from August to September. Currently GSK's Augmentin, with Rs 85 crore in retail monthly sales, tops IPM but Mounjaro may eclipse the antibiotic, which is better known by its generic name amoxicillin, to top the chart.

The overall IPM grew 7.3 percent in September.

A more user-friendly pen formulation has helped in pushed sales higher, experts said. Mounjaro was launched in India in late March.

“The sales got a boost from the launch of Mounjaro in Kwikpens, which are disposable pens pre-filled with the drug,” said Sheetal Sapale, vice president at Pharmarack.

“Mounjaro is expected to supplement and accelerate this growth”, underscoring the product’s strong momentum in the chronic therapy segment, she said.

Mounjaro, which offers a weight-loss efficacy of 20–22 percent, received a significant boost in India following the launch of its injectable Kwikpens in August. The pens are priced between Rs 14,000 and Rs 27,500 depending on dosage.

Rival Novo Nordisk’s oral semaglutide (Rybelsus) dominates the anti-obesity segment with Rs 397 crore in annual sales.

Novo Nordisk Wegovy was launched in June. It’s still listed in the top 40 brands. Analysts expect its performance to accelerate in the coming quarters as awareness and prescriptions rise.

GST rate cut boost

The GST reduction from 18 percent to 5 percent has significantly lowered the cost burden for chronic care patients. The cuts, which came into effect September 22, may boost the sales of Mounjaro further in the coming months.

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.

Mounjaro’s rocketing sales reflect the broader trend of an increasing number of people seeking treatment for obesity and metabolic disorders in India. It also signals strong physician adoption, aggressive marketing, and growing patient awareness.