Mounjaro Market Heavyweight Among Anti-Obesity Drugs, Grabs Early Lead Over Wegovy In India

Last Updated:August 08, 2025, 08:00 IST

In July 2025 alone, Wegovy clocked Rs 7 crore in sales with around 5,000 injections, while Mounjaro posted Rs 47 crore in sales, with close to 1,57,000 units—almost 30 times more

A 2025 meta-analysis comparing tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and semaglutide (Wegovy) found that patients on tirzepatide lost on average 11.4% of their body weight, compared to 7.3% for those on semaglutide. Representational image

India’s booming weight-loss injection market is witnessing a sharp divide. While Novo Nordisk’s recently launched Wegovy is still finding its footing, Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro continues to dominate, the latest sales data shows.

According to data from research firm Pharmarack, the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist) drug segment has more than doubled in value over the last two years, growing from Rs 288 crore in July 2023 to Rs 606 crore in July 2025. Data shows that semaglutide (Wegovy), launched in July, and tirzepatide, launched in March, continue to drive the growth of the market. In July 2025 alone, Wegovy clocked Rs 7 crore in sales and sold around 5,000 injections, while Mounjaro posted Rs 47 crore in sales, selling approximately 1,57,000 units—almost 30 times more.

“While we see the numbers for Wegovy and Mounjaro picking up month on month, we need to understand that Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have done a lot of market priming work with health specialists. These specialists have helped them identify the right set of patients," Sheetal Sapale, vice-president, commercial, at Pharmarack, told News18. “Though Wegovy has a strong prescriber base because of Rybelsus (oral semaglutide tablets), substantial promotion may be needed to reach the Mounjaro patient base for the injectable market."

Rybelsus is an oral tablet, whereas Wegovy is an injectable form of the active pharmaceutical ingredient called semaglutide, which is responsible for weight loss and blood glucose management.

Why is Mounjaro leading?

While Mounjaro has an early mover advantage, as it was launched a quarter earlier than Wegovy, experts believe that one of the critical factors behind the gap in demand is pricing. Wegovy is more expensive than Mounjaro, with a monthly dosage priced between Rs 17,000 and Rs 26,000, compared to Mounjaro’s cost of Rs 14,000 to Rs 17,500.

Experts believe Mounjaro’s edge isn’t just due to timing or pricing.

Dr Sambit Dash, associate professor, biochemistry at MUCM Malaysia, believes that Mounjaro is currently ahead for several reasons. He points out that “its slightly higher efficacy in weight loss compared to Wegovy has made it a preferred choice among prescribers".

Dash believes “the earlier launch gave it a first-mover advantage, and Mounjaro’s growing adoption in countries like the UK has further reinforced its reputation. Also, Eli Lilly’s aggressive marketing strategy has helped make the brand more recognisable, with Mounjaro becoming a more familiar name globally."

Over the past year, celebrities such as Rosie O’Donnell, Eric Stonestreet, and Renee Graziano have publicly acknowledged using Mounjaro to manage their weight, driving further interest and awareness around the drug. The brand has also been frequently mentioned in lifestyle outlets, talk shows, and social media platforms.

However, here comes a clinical perspective. In medical terms, Mounjaro appears to have a slight edge as well. A 2025 meta-analysis comparing tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and semaglutide (Wegovy) found that patients on tirzepatide lost on average 11.4% of their body weight, compared to 7.3% for those on semaglutide. In a 72-week randomised controlled trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, involving adults with obesity but without diabetes, Mounjaro users achieved an average weight loss of 20.2%, whereas Wegovy users saw a 13.7% reduction.

Battle not over for Wegovy

Despite the initial gap, some experts believe Wegovy still has strong growth potential.

Renowned endocrinologist Dr Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis C-DOC, acknowledges that Mounjaro currently outperforms Wegovy, but the latter will gear up soon. “Mounjaro is more effective for weight loss and has a head start over Wegovy. At the same time, Wegovy, having all the properties of a powerful molecule, is likely to scale up soon."

Himani Chandna

Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particularly pass...Read More

Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particularly pass...

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August 08, 2025, 08:00 IST

News india Mounjaro Market Heavyweight Among Anti-Obesity Drugs, Grabs Early Lead Over Wegovy In India

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