Popular diabetes drug, Mounjaro, launched in India |
Mounjaro (tirzepatide), a breakthrough drug for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and obesity, has been released in India. The drug has been approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
India, a country of more than 1.4 billion people, has seen an increase in obesity rates. A government survey conducted between 2019 and 2021 showed that 24% of women and nearly 23% of men between the ages of 15 and 49 were either overweight or obese, up from 20.6% of women and 19% of men in 2015-2016.
“It is the first drug to target both GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptors, offering a new approach to metabolic health management,” the manufacturing company Eli Lilly and Company has said. “The dual burden of obesity and type 2 diabetes is rapidly emerging as a major public health challenge in India. Lilly is committed to collaborating with the government and industry to promote awareness and improve the prevention and management of these diseases,” Winselow Tucker, President & GM, Lilly India, told the media.
Mounjaro is available in single-dose vials, with pricing set at Rs3,500 for a 2.5 mg vial and Rs4,375 for a 5 mg vial, leading to a monthly cost of Rs14,000-Rs17,500, depending on dosage. In the U.S., Mounjaro carries a list price of $1,086.37 for each fill
“Mounjaro (tirzepatide) 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg per 0.5 mL injection, is a prescription medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose). It is not known if Mounjaro can be used in people who have had pancreatitis. Mounjaro is not for use in people with type 1 diabetes. It is not known if Mounjaro is safe and effective for use in children under 18 years of age,” the company has said on its website.
Mounjaro represents a different class of medicines introduced for adults with type 2 diabetes. It works differently by directly activating GIP and GLP-1 pathways to help regulate blood sugar, it adds.
The common side effects of the drug are nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, indigestion and stomach Pain
Warning: Eli Lilly advises against the use of Mounjaro if one has symptoms like a lump or swelling in the neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. Do not use Mounjaro if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Do not use Mounjaro if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Do not use Mounjaro if you are allergic to it or any of the ingredients in Mounjaro.
(With inputs from agencies)
