Mounjaro Emerges India’s Top‑Selling Drug in October

In a breakthrough for India’s pharmaceutical market, the drug Mounjaro — manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company — became the highest‑value selling drug in India for October 2025, crossing ₹1 billion in monthly sales. This rapid rise, just months after its launch in India, reflects shifting dynamics in chronic disease treatment, rising demand for weight‑loss medications, and evolving pharma‑market trends. For aspirants reviewing current affairs, this development sits at the intersection of healthcare, business, and policy.

Key Facts & Figures

• Mounjaro recorded ≈ ₹1 billion (≈ $11.38 million) in sales in India during October 2025.
• Since its launch in India in March 2025, cumulative revenues for Mounjaro stood at about ₹3.33 billion up to end of October.
• In October, by volume, Mounjaro’s consumption was approximately ten times that of its competitor Wegovy (launched June 2025).
• The drug is positioned for both diabetes management and weight‑loss treatment, leveraging the dual hormone‑target mechanism of action (GLP‑1 & GIP).

Pricing dynamics: its launch included different formulations including vials and later pen devices; initial starting dose packs were priced around ₹14,000 for 2.5 mg in India.

Shift in Treatment & Market Demand

• The success of Mounjaro signals that Indian healthcare is increasingly embracing therapies for obesity and metabolic disorders, not just traditional diseases.
• With rising rates of diabetes and obesity in India, such therapies are gaining fast traction.

Pharma Market Disruption

• A relatively new entrant reaching top‑selling status in less than a year demonstrates how fast the Indian pharmaceutical market can shift.
• Legacy brands and treatments may face competition from newer therapeutic categories.

Health Policy & Access

• The affordability and access of such advanced drugs in India raise questions and opportunities around insurance coverage, out‑of‑pocket costs, and public health readiness for lifestyle‑related conditions.