India has over 250 million people with obesity, a chronic, progressive, and treatable neurobehavioral disease. It causes increased body fat, leading to metabolic, biomechanical, and psychosocial health issues
Published Mar 25, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 25, 2025 | 9:54 AM
Tirzepatide/Mounjaro injections. (Eli Lilly and Company)
Synopsis: Eli Lilly has launched its drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) in India to regulate blood sugar and appetite. Priced at ₹3,500 for a 2.5 mg vial, it’s significantly cheaper than in the US. Approved by CDSCO, Mounjaro offers a competitive edge over Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic. At ₹14,000 monthly, the medication targets those needing blood sugar and appetite control, undercutting US prices by over 95 percent
US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company has introduced its globally recognised drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) in India. This medication, powered by the active ingredient tirzepatide, regulates blood sugar levels and appetite by stimulating two key hormones—GIP (Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide) and GLP-1 (Glucagon-like Peptide-1).
The company has set the price at ₹3,500 for a 2.5 mg vial and ₹4,375 for a 5 mg vial, with the monthly cost for the lowest dose totalling ₹14,000. Approved by India’s drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Mounjaro is significantly cheaper than its US counterpart, undercutting American prices by over 95 percent.
This aggressive pricing gives Eli Lilly a competitive edge over rival Novo Nordisk, which manufactures Ozempic, as both companies vie for dominance in one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing healthcare markets.
For context, US consumers paying out-of-pocket for Lilly’s obesity-specific tirzepatide version, Zepbound, spend around $499 (approximately ₹43,000) per month.
But the real question remains—who should consider taking Mounjaro?
India has over 250 million people living with obesity, a serious and complex disease. Obesity is a chronic, progressive, relapsing, and treatable neurobehavioral disease. It is characterised by an increase in body fat that leads to adipose tissue dysfunction and abnormal fat mass distribution, resulting in adverse metabolic, biomechanical, and psychosocial health consequences.
Obesity is recognised as a disease by the World Health Organisation (WHO), The Obesity Society, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), and over 100 other medical organisations worldwide. “It is chronic. It is treatable. And it is not simply a matter of willpower. A disease is defined by organ dysfunction, increased mortality, and biological disruption—obesity meets all these criteria. It is not just about lifestyle; it is fundamentally about biology,” said health and fitness entrepreneur Chirag Barjatya.
He added, like diabetes or hypertension, obesity requires medical intervention. “In individuals with obesity, the brain circuits that regulate hunger and satiety become altered or disrupted. As a result, even when someone is physically “full,” their brain may not register it,” he said.
GLP-1 (Glucagon-like Peptide-1) is a hormone produced in the gut and brain that helps regulate blood sugar, slows digestion, and reduces appetite. GLP-1 receptor agonist (RA) drugs mimic this hormone, allowing people to eat less, feel full for longer, and lose weight by working with the brain, not against it.
“GLP-1 medications help correct this imbalance by targeting hunger hormones and brain regions that control appetite and reward. They reduce cravings and “food noise,” enabling people to regain control over their eating—not through force, but by resetting their biology,” said Barjatya.
GLP-1 drugs help fix that. They work on hunger hormones and brain regions controlling appetite and reward.
They reduce cravings and food noise, helping people regain control over their eating not by force, but by resetting biology.
— Chirag Barjatya (@chiragbarjatyaa) March 24, 2025
Bengaluru-based nutritionist Dr Nandita Iyer said that Mounjaro is a once-weekly injectable drug that targets two gut hormone receptors—GLP-1 and GIP—both naturally occurring in the body.
“While GLP-1 slows stomach emptying, curbs appetite, and improves insulin sensitivity, GLP enhances fat metabolism and reduces insulin resistance. Mounjaro acts as a synthetic version of these hormones, helping to regulate blood sugar, boost insulin sensitivity, slow gastric emptying, and suppress appetite. Essentially, it signals to the body: ‘Relax, you don’t need that second plate of biryani.” she said.
Clinical trials have shown that patients on the highest dose (15 mg) lost an average of 21.8 kg over 72 weeks, while those on the lowest dose (5 mg) lost 15.4 kg when combined with diet and exercise.
This makes Mounjaro one of the most effective medications for both diabetes and obesity to date.
Barjatya further explained that common lifestyle advice like “eat less, move more” oversimplifies the issue and ignores how the brain actively resists weight loss by increasing hunger and amplifying food cues.
“This is why diet and exercise alone often fail as long-term solutions for most people—they do not address the underlying issue of food intake regulation. Both lifestyle changes and GLP-1 medications play a role in effective obesity management,” Barjatya said.
Hyderabad-based Neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar emphasised the importance of prevention over treatment.
“While Mounjaro is effective in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, it is always better to prevent reaching a stage where such medication becomes necessary. Overweight, obesity, and type 2 diabetes can be avoided in many cases through lifestyle modifications, including a healthy diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep,” he said.
He added that it is a vicious cycle—first, multinational companies promote excessive sugar consumption through sugary drinks, pastries, cakes, and unhealthy snacks, leading to obesity and diabetes. Then, another multinational company introduces drugs to treat these very diseases.
“Don’t fall into this trap. Take charge of your health and prevent becoming a patient,” he said.
➡️Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) has been launched in India
This is effective in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity.
➡️However, my view is that, it is still better to avoid reaching a stage when you would need this medicine.
➡️Overweight, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus… pic.twitter.com/iTzoNaio07— Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (@hyderabaddoctor) March 21, 2025
“One supports behaviour change. The other supports biology. Seeing them as an ‘either-or’ choice is misguided. In reality, they work best together. Choosing between lifestyle changes, medications, or surgery is a clinical decision, not a moral one. What works for one person may not work for another. This is about health, not judgment,” said Barjatya.
Dr Iyer further elaborated that like all good things in life, there is a downside. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and constipation—you get the picture. There are also long-term risks, such as gallbladder issues and pancreatitis.
“Another key concern is that weight loss often reverses if the drug is discontinued. This means Mounjaro is not a one-time fix but part of a long-term health strategy. It is not a magic wand. You still need proper nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle changes—no injection can outrun a bad lifestyle,” she said.
“Most importantly, Mounjaro must only be prescribed by a doctor who will determine whether you truly need it and in what dosage,” she advised.
You know about Ozempic. But do you know about Mounjaro (tirzepatide), a drug for diabetes and weight loss that was launched in India this week? All the basics about this new blockbuster drug in my video–> pic.twitter.com/YN1nBrApFW
— Dr Nandita Iyer (@saffrontrail) March 23, 2025
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
