Weight-loss drug Mounjaro in India: Is it better than Ozempic?

As new drugs to treat diabetes and prompt weight loss gain popularity worldwide, US-based pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly has launched its ‘game-changing’ medication in India. Mounjaro, a diabetes and weight-loss drug, has made its debut in the Indian market as the country grapples with high obesity and diabetes rates.

Drugs like Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic have taken the world by storm. These are injectable medications that control blood sugar to treat type 2 diabetes and help in weight loss in obese people.

Even before Mounjaro’s entry into India, Danish company Novo Nordisk-manufactured Ozempic has been creating waves. We take a look at how they compare and which is better.

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Weight-loss drugs are all the rage

New drugs to treat type 2 diabetes have become popular quickly due to their weight-loss benefits. This class of drugs is called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists that mimic the effect of two hormones naturally produced by the body — glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1.

The human gut secretes GLP-1 and GIP hormones after food consumption to regulate blood sugar levels. GLP-1 makes people feel fuller, decreases their food cravings, and helps them lose weight.

These hormones affect the insulin and glucagon levels in the body. Drugs such as Mounjaro and Ozempic help regulate blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes by mimicking these naturally occurring hormones.

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Mounjaro in India

Mounjaro, chemically known as tirzepatide, was launched by Eli Lilly in India on Thursday (March 20). The injection is to be administered once a week under the fatty tissue of the skin.

It is recommended by healthcare providers to patients along with customised diet and exercise plans.

As per a Reuters report, the diabetes drug is priced at Rs 3,500 for a 2.5 mg vial and Rs 4,375 for a 5 mg vial, its lowest doses. A patient will have to spend up to Rs 17,500 every month, depending on the doctor’s prescription.

“This India-specific pricing reflects Lilly’s commitment to expanding access to innovative treatments in the country,” Eli Lilly said in a statement.

Tirzepatide is sold as Zepbound for obesity in the United States. It is also available in the United Kingdom and Europe under the brand name Mounjaro for both diabetes and weight loss.

Mounjaro vs Ozempic

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is the first drug in its class to activate both GLP-1 and GIP hormones that regulate blood sugar.

“Unlike conventional diabetes treatments, Mounjaro activates both GIP and GLP-1 receptors—offering improved glucose regulation and enhanced metabolic effects,” Dr Jagadish Hiremath, public health expert, told moneycontrol.com.

This makes Mounjaro stand apart from drugs like Ozempic, chemically known as semaglutide, which only activate the body’s GLP-1 receptors.

Both Mounjaro and Ozempic come with side effects of diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting.

“Like Ozempic, Mounjaro has gained traction through TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube as a weight loss breakthrough. Reports suggest that public figures are using it for fast, effortless weight loss. Many doctors are prescribing Mounjaro off-label for patients without diabetes,” Dr Hiremath said.

Which is better?

It is hard to say. Both Mounjaro and Ozempic have their own benefits.

As Mounjaro mimics the effects of both GIP and GLP-1, it controls blood sugar better than its predecessors like Ozempic. It is also a better option for weight loss. According to Scientific American, clinical trials show that the drug can help people lose 20 per cent or more of their body mass.

Ozempic can lead to a weight reduction of nearly 15 per cent, a 68-week clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed.

As per Health.com, doctors usually prefer Ozempic for patients to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events like stroke.

Semaglutide is the first GLP-1 receptor agonist to lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes among non-diabetics, “so that’s a game changer in the landscape of obesity medicine,” Sue Pedersen, an endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist in Canada told Scientific American in 2024.

With inputs from agencies