Obesity Market Boom Propels Major Pharma firms to Global Top-Tier Status

The rising global demand for weight-loss drugs has propelled major pharmaceuticals firms Eli lilly and Novo Nordisk among the world's most valuable companies as they aggressively compete in the obesity market that analysts predict could cross $100 billion in the next decade. The surge in demand has led firms to scramble to scale up production capacity globally.

In the US, the price of Mounjaro is around $1,000 per fill, but the amount a patient pays depends on factors like insurance. A huge demand for weight loss among affluent Indians, particularly celebs, has led to them being imported through unofficial channels, sidestepping regulatory checks. These are available at a fraction of the US price, majorly in the grey market.

Gupta said that the company has not decided on the pricing of Tirzepatide for India, but it "will be priced competitively and appropriately which will reflect 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".

Through the launch of Mounjaro, the company will widen its key diabetes portfolio in the country. In diabetes, it has distribution partnerships with two domestic pharma companies: for Huminsulin range of products with Lupin, and for Humalog and Trulicity with Cipla.

"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," he stated.