Eli Lilly’s diabetes and weight-loss drug, Mounjaro, has received a “positive” response in India, with the company now focusing on meeting the significant demand in the world’s most populous country.
Lilly launched Mounjaro in India in March, ahead of competitor Novo Nordisk, tapping into a market grappling with increasing rates of obesity and diabetes.
According to data from PharmaTrac, Mounjaro has already sold over 81,000 units in India, generating approximately $2.76 million as of May, with sales seeing a 60% increase between April and May.
PharmaTrac suggests that Mounjaro‘s mass-market pricing could make it a staple in India’s obesity and diabetes management. This surge in demand in India mirrors the global trend for Mounjaro and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, which has led to shortages in some countries. Eli Lilly has invested over $50 billion since 2020 to boost its global production capacity to meet this escalating demand.
India faces a growing health crisis, with obesity and diabetes rates steadily climbing. A government survey revealed that between 2019 and 2021, 24% of women and nearly 23% of men aged 15 to 49 were overweight or obese, an increase from previous years. Projections from the International Diabetes Federation indicate that the number of adults with diabetes in India could soar to over 124 million by 2045, up from 74.2 million in 2021. This burgeoning market, estimated to be around $150 billion by the early 2030s, has prompted Indian drugmakers to accelerate the development of more affordable versions of these weight-loss medications, particularly as semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, is expected to go off-patent in India in 2026.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
