By Ashima Sharda Mahindra

Copyright timesnownews

Eli Lilly’s Munjaro has become the second-largest selling drug in India, within six months of its launch, according to industry tracker PharmaTrac. According to data, this once-a-week injectable drug, which is prescribed for type 2 diabetes and weight management, recorded Rs 80 crore in sales in September, trailing only the antibiotic Augmentin, which registered Rs 85 crore. The drug’s sales overtook popular antacid Pan, with sales of Rs 77 crore. Mounjaro, which has the active ingredient tirzepatide, has shown a significant ascent – a 42 per cent jump from Rs 56 crore in August. What is driving Mounjaro’s sales? According to experts, Mounjaro – which has a weight-loss efficacy of more than 20 per cent – received a remarkable boost in sales across the country, following the launch of its injectable Kwikpens in August. These pens are priced between Rs 14,000 and Rs 27,500, depending on dosage. Also, the GST reduction on medicines, from 18 per cent to 5 per cent, has lowered the cost burden for chronic care patients. The cuts, which came into effect in late September, are expected to further boost the sales of Mounjaro in the coming months. The monthly cost of the 5 mg vial will reduce by about Rs 1,096 a month to approximately Rs 16,404. Similarly, the 2.5 mg vial monthly cost is expected to decline by about Rs 876. Also, experts believe that since an increasing number of people are now seeking treatment for obesity across the country, it has affected Mounjaro’s rocketing sales, apart from aggressive marketing and growing patient awareness. India is a hotspot for such drugs Doctors believe another reason behind Mounjaro’s roaring success in India is the growing number of obese and overweight people seeking redressal. A recent ICMR-INDIAB study revealed there are more than 250 million people with generalised obesity and 350 million with abdominal obesity – and the numbers continue to rise along with lifestyle-related metabolic diseases. Along with the surge in obesity, cases of type 2 diabetes have also found a home in India, with the second-highest number of adults living with the condition globally. More than 101 million people are currently diagnosed, and another 25 million are prediabetics, according to a 2021 report by the World Health Organisation. How does Mounjaro work? Mounjaro is a tirzepatide that acts as a dual agonist for two key gut hormones, GIP, or glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, and GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide-1, to regulate blood sugar and reduce appetite. This unique dual-action mechanism makes it highly effective for treating type 2 diabetes and promoting weight loss. Doctors say Mounjaro triggers the pancreas to release more insulin when your blood sugar levels are high, especially after eating. It also prevents your liver from releasing too much stored sugar into the bloodstream, which also helps keep blood sugar levels from rising. The drug slows digestion, which prevents a sharp spike in blood sugar after you eat and makes you feel fuller for longer.