Surge in Weight-Loss Drug Use in India Raises Health and Regulation Concerns
Mounjaro, a GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes drug, has become India's top-selling medication within eight months of its approval, surpassing even antibiotics. The demand for GLP-1 drugs such as Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic has surged rapidly since their market entry in India this year. Ozempic is priced at 8,800 rupees for four injections per month, while Mounjaro costs around 14,000 rupees monthly, affecting affordability for many.
With patents on many semaglutide drugs set to expire in March next year, cheaper domestic versions are expected to enter the market, potentially flooding it and driving prices down. Industry experts project that the market for weight-loss drugs in India could reach approximately $150 billion annually by the end of this decade.
Doctors have sounded alarms over the unregulated use of these drugs, emphasizing that they are not a cure for India's diabetes and obesity crisis. Concerns include prescribing by pharmacists and general practitioners without specialist oversight, as well as their use in gyms and beauty clinics. Potential serious side effects include muscle loss, pancreatitis, gallstones, and possible blindness in some patients. Medical professionals call for strict regulation and the establishment of a prescribing board comprising specialists.
India currently has around 212 million adults with diabetes and approximately 180 million overweight or obese individuals as of 2021, with projections suggesting these numbers could rise dramatically by 2050—to about 450 million overweight or obese adults. Endocrinologist Anoop Misra notes a rising demand with three to seven patients daily seeking these drugs and stresses that lifestyle changes should accompany any drug treatment. He also highlights that the arrival of non-patented versions could make India a major and affordable market for GLP-1 drugs.
Patient accounts, such as that of Vidhi Dua who has diabetes and obesity and began Mounjaro treatment in September, report side effects and caution against the cosmetic weight-loss trend fueling demand.
