Eli Lilly begins commercial rollout of Mounjaro pen in India

Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) debuted its best-selling diabetes therapy, Mounjaro, in an easy-to-use injector format in India on Wednesday, escalating a rivalry with Novo Nordisk (NVO) in the world’s most populous country.

The Indiana-based pharma giant launched Mounjaro Kwikpen for 14,000 rupees (roughly $160) for its starting dose of 2.5 mg, according to Reuters.

In June, India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization greenlighted the injector pen to administer six Mounjaro dose strengths: 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg. Days earlier, its Danish rival had launched its weight loss therapy, Wegovy, in multiple dose strengths with a similar user-friendly injector format for the Indian market.

Lilly (NYSE:LLY) has priced its product for a month’s supply with 2.5 mg and 5 mg doses available at 14,000 and 17,500 rupees, respectively. Patients will have to spend 22,000 rupees for 7.5 mg and 10 mg doses and 27,500 rupees for 12.5 mg and 15 mg doses.

In comparison, Wegovy’s lowest dosing strengths of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg are available in India for 17,345 rupees per month, while its medium doses of 7.5 mg and 10 mg and highest doses of 12.5 mg and 15 mg cost 22,000 and 27,500 rupees, respectively.

Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) gained a first-mover advantage in India’s fast-expanding obesity market when it launched Mounjaro 2.5 mg and 5 mg vials in March. According to data from the market analysis firm Pharmarack Technologies, sales for the GLP-1 injectable in India climbed 60% in May from April, the first full month of its commercial rollout.