March 10, 2025- Eli Lilly, a prominent American multinational pharmaceutical company, announced plans to launch its blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drug, Mounjaro (tirzepatide), in lucrative markets like India, Mexico, and Brazil in the second half of 2025.
This decision comes after the company increased its production capacity to meet growing demand for such medications. In the words of Lucas Montarce, Chief Financial Officer, “We are planning new launches as we continue to ramp up supply production to meet rising demand”.
Eli Lilly has invested over US$ 23 billion to scale up its global manufacturing capacity since 2020. It has production plants across nations like Spain, Italy, and Ireland. It is now looking to expand into high-potential markets with a large patient pool.
There has been a rising global demand for diabetes and weight-loss drugs manufactured by Lilly and its Danish rival Novo Nordisk. To capitalize on this trend, Lilly is constantly looking to expand its presence across lucrative pockets. The new launch will offer a big market opportunity to Lilly as nations like India and Brazil are among the most populous nations with soaring obesity rates.
Currently, Mounjaro is sold under the same brand name in Europe and the United Kingdom for both diabetes and weight loss. However, in the United States, it is sold as Zepbound specifically for obesity.
According to Montarce, around 900 million patients could benefit from Mounjaro’s expansion into emerging markets. Introducing novel diabetes and weight-loss drugs in big emerging markets like India will not only propel sales revenue of Eli Lilly but will also positively impact the global weight loss and obesity management sector.
According to Coherent Market Insights (CMI), the global weight loss and obesity management market is set to record a CAGR of 7.9% through 2030. Rising prevalence of obesity, growing focus on reducing weight, and continuous new product launches will spearhead this future growth.
“Expansion of novel weight-loss drugs by companies like Eli Lilly into emerging markets will likely boost growth of the weight loss and obesity management industry during the forecast period. This move will also foster competition, especially with existing players like Novo Nordisk, and reshape consumer preferences, says a senior analyst at CMI.”
With rising prevalence of diabetes, demand for weight loss and diabetes drugs is expected to rise. This will likely create lucrative revenue generation opportunities for pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly and others.
Patients in developing nations like India often struggle to access effective diabetes and weight-loss medications. Eli Lilly’s launch can address this by offering effective medications at affordable prices. Increased availability of highly effective medications like Mounjaro may also reduce patients’ dependence on traditional weight loss methods.
Leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies will look to ramp up investments in research and development (R&D) to develop new medication with better safety and efficacy. They will also focus on launching their products in attractive nations with growth potential.
Source: Reuters
