Mounjaro, Eli Lilly’s GLP‑1 receptor agonist, topped India’s drug‑sales chart by value in October 2025, generating 1 billion rupees ($11.38 million). Launched in March, the drug earned 80 crore rupees in September and 80 crore in August, and the October figure eclipsed the 800 million‑rupee sales of GSK’s antibiotic Augmentin. In the anti‑obesity category, Mounjaro’s 1 billion‑rupee haul outpaced Wegovy’s 9 crore and Rybelsus’s 26 crore, underscoring its premium pricing and strong market penetration.
Mounjaro’s rapid ascent is driven by a multi‑pronged strategy. Eli Lilly partnered with Cipla to market the drug under the brand Yurpeak, expanding distribution in metropolitan hubs such as Mumbai and Delhi. The company introduced both vial and Kwikpen formats, with vial doses priced at ₹3,000–₹4,000 and a four‑dose Kwikpen at ₹20,000–₹25,000, making the therapy more accessible in a price‑sensitive market. A recent GST reduction lowered the monthly treatment cost, further boosting demand. Aggressive physician engagement and targeted marketing campaigns have also accelerated adoption.
Eli Lilly’s global performance in the same period highlights the significance of the India milestone. Q3 2025 revenue rose 54% YoY to $17.60 billion, with the incretin portfolio—including Mounjaro and Zepbound—driving a 109% jump in global Mounjaro revenue to $6.52 billion. The India sales represent a growing share of the company’s international growth, reinforcing the strategic importance of emerging markets for the drug’s long‑term trajectory.
Management emphasized the momentum: “The strong demand for Mounjaro in India confirms our strategy of early market entry and partnership‑driven expansion,” said David A. Ricks, Eli Lilly’s chair and CEO. Ricks noted that the company’s focus on tiered pricing and local manufacturing partnerships is paying off in high‑growth regions.
Analysts had projected robust growth for the anti‑obesity segment in India, and Mounjaro’s performance aligns with those expectations. The drug’s market‑share gains over established competitors such as Augmentin and Wegovy suggest that Eli Lilly’s first‑mover advantage and pricing strategy are effective in a crowded therapeutic space.
The India success signals broader implications for Eli Lilly’s global strategy. By securing the top spot in a fast‑growing market, the company has positioned itself ahead of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, which entered India later in 2025. The partnership with Cipla and the tiered pricing model could serve as a blueprint for entry into other emerging markets, potentially accelerating the company’s expansion in regions where obesity and type‑2 diabetes prevalence are rising.
The achievement also underscores the growing importance of lifestyle‑driven therapies in India’s pharmaceutical landscape, where premium weight‑loss treatments are increasingly adopted by physicians and patients alike. Eli Lilly’s investment of over $1 billion in India to expand manufacturing and supply chains further supports sustained growth in the region.
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