Cipla expressed openness to collaborating with the American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly for the marketing of obesity treatment drugs in India. Umang Vohra, Global CEO, Cipla stated, “Absolutely and always open. We value our partnership with Lilly tremendously and I think the two companies are culturally aligned.”
There is a surge in global demand for Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound, as well as for Danish competitor Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic, all belonging to the category of GLP-1 receptor agonists initially developed for managing blood sugar levels in type two diabetes patients. They have gained significant popularity for their efficacy in weight loss.
Recognizing the market potential, Indian pharmaceutical firms, including Cipla, are actively engaged in developing their versions of weight-loss drugs to capture a larger market share in India. Lilly anticipates launching Mounjaro, its diabetes drug and highly sought-after obesity treatment, in India next year.
As reported by Reuters, Cipla, ranked as India’s third-largest drugmaker by sales, already maintains a partnership with Lilly for marketing and promoting the latter’s diabetes medications in India. “We have established a strong relationship with Lilly through the insulin range we distribute for them,” Vohra noted, indicating the company’s readiness for upcoming launches in the United States, India, and South Africa this year.
