Clinics and hospitals are getting a substantial uptick in consultations, with many receiving hundreds of calls within days of the drug’s availability
US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly’s introduction of a weight-loss injection, Mounjaro - chemically called Tirzepatide—in India last month has led to a massive patient inquiry, highlighting the country’s growing demand for obesity treatments. A new survey, conducted by Reuters, has reported clinics and hospitals getting a substantial uptick in consultations, with many receiving hundreds of calls within days of the drug’s availability.
After Mounjaro, Eli’s competitor Novo Nordisk is now gearing up to roll out its obesity drug, Wegovy.
However, according to reports, Indian pharmaceutical firms are now also exploring the development of generic alternatives to cater to the expected surge in demand for weight-loss treatment, as the country is expected to have the second-largest population of overweight or obese people by 2050.
Till now, Indians were largely dependent on friends, family, or suppliers abroad to obtain the GLIP-1 agonists, which are medications that lower blood sugar levels and promote weight loss.
How much does Mounjaro cost?
According to reports, Mounjaro - a once-weekly injection approved by India's drug regulator—is priced at 4,375 rupees for a 5-milligram vial and 3,500 rupees for a 2.5 mg vial, its lowest dose. Its highest dose is available at 15 mg.
An Indian patient will have to spend around $200 a month when taking a weekly dose of 5 mg, subject to a doctor's prescription.
How does Mounjaro work to reduce weight?
According to experts, all the GLP-1 agonists work on the GLP-1 hormone that your small intestine makes. It has various roles, like:
Triggers insulin release from pancreas
Insulin allows your body to use the food you eat for energy and lowers the glucose in your blood. If there is not enough insulin, your blood sugar increases, leading to diabetes.
Blocks glucagon secretion
Glucagon is a hormone your body uses to raise your blood sugar levels when necessary, which GLP-1 prevents from going into your bloodstream.
Slows stomach emptying
Slower digestion means that your body releases less glucose from the food you eat into your bloodstream.
Increases satiety
GLP-1 also affects areas of your brain that process hunger and satiety.
GLP-1 medications work by mimicking this hormone, which attaches to a cell receptor and causes the same action as the naturally occurring substance. In other words, GLP-1 medications bind to GLP receptors to trigger the effects of the GLP-1 hormone. The higher the dose of the GLP-1 agonist, the more extreme the effects.
If you have diabetes, the medications help manage your blood sugar by triggering your pancreas to release more insulin, which slows digestion and decreases blood sugar spikes. The satiety effect of GLP-1 agonists reduces your food intake, appetite, and hunger—thereby leading to weight loss.
Other benefits of taking weight loss medication?
Other than lowering blood sugar levels and reducing weight, studies show that GLP-1 agonists have many other potential benefits, which include:
- Lowering blood pressure levels
- Improving lipid disorders
- Improving fatty liver disease
- Reducing your risk of heart and kidney diseases
- Delaying the progression of diabetes nephropathy
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