Novo and Lilly compete in India as obesity drugs demand hikes
Demand for weight-loss drugs in India has shot up.
And rivals Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are battling for market share.
That's according to research firm Pharmarack.
It said sales of Lilly's Mounjaro, which launched in March, doubled from May to June.
Overall, it's almost hit close to 88,000 units sold - over $3 million.
:: Novo Nordisk
Meanwhile, Pharmarack said Novo sold almost 1,800 units of Wegovy since its late-June launch.
Medical journal the Lancet has said the incidence of obesity and diabetes is rising in India.
And the country ranks among the worst three globally for high obesity rates.
Pharmarack said the Indian obesity market has grown fivefold since 2021 and is valued at $73 million.
And affordability and willingness to try new drugs for obesity have propelled the growth of the market.
While Wegovy's only just launched, the active ingredient in it - semaglutide - has a two-thirds share in the Indian market, according to Pharmarack.
And Novo has sold oral versions of semaglutide for diabetes in India since 2022.
However, semaglutide will lose patent protection in India next year.
Enabling generic drugmakers to produce cheaper versions of Wegovy as India becomes a key battleground for drugmakers in the global obesity market.
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