Investing.com -- U.S. pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) has introduced its diabetes and weight-loss drug Mounjaro in India, ahead of its competitor Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO). This comes as India, the world’s most populous country, faces rising levels of obesity and diabetes.
Eli Lilly and Denmark’s Novo Nordisk have experienced increasing global demand for their innovative weight-loss drugs, which has also led to an increase in their market valuations.
Mounjaro, a once-weekly injection approved by India’s drug regulator, is being sold at 4,375 rupees ($50.67) for a 5 mg vial and 3,500 rupees ($40.54) for a 2.5 mg vial, its lowest doses. The highest dose available is 15 mg. According to the company, a patient in India may spend around $200 a month on a weekly dose of 5 mg, depending on their doctor’s prescription.
In the U.S., Mounjaro carries a list price of $1,086.37 for each monthly refill, but the exact cost to patients can vary based on their insurance plan. Eli Lilly also sells 5 mg, 7.5 mg, and 10 mg vials of Zepbound, another weight-loss drug, which cost around $499 for a month’s supply if paid in cash without involving any third-party entities.
Eli Lilly clarified that the pricing in different regions cannot be compared due to significant variations in healthcare systems, economies, and reimbursement policies in each country.
Novo Nordisk’s team in India is urging the global leadership to launch its drug Wegovy as early as 2025 in India, a year ahead of the company’s original target. While Wegovy has already been approved in India, Novo Nordisk has not specified a launch date for the drug in the country.
India, with a population of over 1.4 billion, is witnessing a steady rise in obesity and diabetes rates. The International Diabetes Federation predicts that the number of adults with diabetes in India will rise to over 124 million by 2045, up from 74.2 million in 2021.
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