Doctors warn of unregulated weight-loss jabs boom in India

Doctors in India have warned of the dangers of an unregulated boom in weight-loss injections and emphasised they are not a magic solution the country’s growing epidemic of diabetes and obesity.

- Hannah Ellis-Petersen

Demand for drugs such as Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic has surged since they were introduced into the Indian market this year.

In the eight months since it was approved for sale, Mounjaro - a jab that regulates blood sugar and suppresses appetite to help with diabetes and obesity - is now India’s highest-selling drug, overtaking antibiotics.

Its commercial success has led its producer, Eli Lilly, to begin trials on a similar drug that works on suppressing appetite and could be released in India in pill form by next year.

An Eli Lilly spokesperson said: “Rising urbanisation, sedentary lifestyles and changing diets have made weight management a growing public health priority. This convergence of high unmet need, growing awareness and improving access to innovative therapies makes India a significant market for weight-loss drugs.”

The drug company Novo Nordisk is also pushing for a share of the market. It launched Ozempic this month at 8,800 rupees (£73) for four jabs a month, compared with the 14,000 rupees (£115) monthly cost of Mounjaro - prices beyond the reach of the average Indian household.