Vineet Gupta, associate vice president and managing director of Eli Lilly (India), confirmed the timeline during an exclusive interview with The Times of India. He noted, “India presents a promising market, with a large and growing population, rising disease burden from obesity, diabetes, and cancer, and an increasing health expenditure. A combination of all of this makes us very optimistic about the India opportunity. We are committed to bringing our next line of innovations to the country, starting with our obesity pipeline and Tirzepatide in 2025.”
India poised for groundbreaking treatments
Tirzepatide received marketing authorization in India in July 2024, with the company working to secure additional approvals ahead of the 2025 launch. The move aligns with Eli Lilly’s strategy to expand its portfolio in India, which has a significant diabetes and obesity burden.
Globally, the sales of Mounjaro reached $3.1 billion in the third quarter of 2024. Competitor Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy, has announced plans to bring its weight-loss drug to India by 2026. Analysts estimate the global obesity drug market could surpass $100 billion within the next decade, underscoring the intense competition among pharmaceutical giants.
Addressing pricing and accessibility
While the US price for Mounjaro is approximately $1,000 per fill, Gupta emphasized that the Indian pricing strategy will consider local affordability and value. “It will be priced competitively and appropriately, reflecting the efficacy of this medicine and also the value that it will bring in reducing the overall health and economic burden of type 2 diabetes and obesity,” he said.
India’s grey market has already seen an influx of weight-loss drugs, often imported unofficially at reduced prices. With the formal launch, Eli Lilly aims to provide a regulated and reliable option for Indian consumers.
Local partnerships and infrastructure
Eli Lilly has been operating in India since 1993, blending strategic partnerships and in-house initiatives to grow its presence. For its diabetes portfolio, the company collaborates with Lupin for the Huminsulin range and Cipla for Humalog and Trulicity. The company also manufactures human insulin vials locally through a partnership with Gland Pharma.Gupta stated, “Our strategy in India has been a mix since we set up shop in 1993. We have some strategic partnerships which are specifically for our diabetes portfolio, and our non-diabetes portfolio in India, we continue to promote through our own team. We are expanding our commercial operations in the country, in preparation of bringing these innovations.”
The introduction of Tirzepatide signals Eli Lilly’s commitment to addressing India’s growing healthcare challenges while strengthening its footprint in the Indian pharmaceutical market.
