After Mounjaro Jab, Eli Lilly plans weight loss pill launch in India

US pharma major Eli Lilly is setting its sights on launching an oral version of its experimental weight loss drug orforglipron, building on the successful introduction of its weight-loss injectable Mounjaro (tirzepatide) in India in March this year.

Top Eli Lilly executives told ET the company is looking at regulatory submissions for the once-daily pill orforglipron for chronic weight management within the next three months, with local approvals expected by the second half of 2026.

“We are just preparing for regulatory submission for chronic weight management and obesity and that will happen by the end of this year and likely approval in many countries in the second half of 2026,” Patrik Jonsson, President, Lilly International, told ET.

India’s anti-obesity drug market currently stands at Rs 752 crore.

The Indian regulatory authority would feature in the company’s first wave of submissions globally, Jonsson said. Submissions for type 2 diabetes would follow early 2026 and could be approved by late 2026 or early 2027, he added.

The new Eli Lilly pill would play a significant part in the company’s market strategy for India, a geography that’s predominantly oral drugs driven. It would complement Mounjaro, making the new drug especially suited for widespread adoption.


Data shows that more than 75% of patients in countries such as India prefer oral therapy when efficacy, compared with injectables, is similar.

“Certain markets like India, Japan, China are based mostly on oral medications. India is a very good field for a medicine like orforglipron,” Jonsson said.

Efficacy Claims
For a head-to-head assessment, Eli Lilly conducted a comparative study for its oral tablet compared with Novo Nordisk’s oral semaglutide (Rybelsus), which is an oral GLP-1 drug. In that study, orforglipron showed greater weight loss and better glucose control.

The Phase 3 data from a global trial called ACHIEVE-3 shows a mean A1C reduction of up to 2.2% vs 1.4% with semaglutide. Weight loss was 73.6% greater at the highest dose—8.9 kg (9.2%) vs 5.0 kg (5.3%).

The entire study had more than 4,500 participants globally, including Indian patients.

While injectable GLP-1s like Mounjaro mostly cater to patients with BMI above 35—often seeking maximum weight loss—orforglipron is aimed at patients with BMI 27–34.

“There is a huge majority of patients with obesity and BMI between 27-34 - who are not out for maximum weight loss. For them orforglipron will be a perfect medicine with weight loss of 12-16%,” said Jonsson.

Unlike the injectable drugs that are complex peptides, orforglipron is a small molecule that eliminates the need for cold chains, reducing logistical barriers and expanding geographical reach. In turn, orforglipron is also expected to be available at cheaper price points unlike its predecessors.

Pointing out the opportunity to scale production in oral medication, Jonsson said: “With injectables we rely on cold chains and that is something we are eliminating here. You can reach patients across the globe at a scale that is not possible today.”

Though pricing details remain under wraps, Jonsson said it will adopt a “value-based pricing” approach, assessing the benefits of orforglipron against current therapies and the needs of the Indian ecosystem.

“We are taking a value-based pricing approach…We will assess the benefit of orforglipron versus existing therapies and unmet needs in the marketplace. We will take into account the external environment and competitive landscape for pricing. We will announce it at the time of launch,” said Jonsson.

Mounjaro sales stood at Rs 154 crore in the first five months in India, according to data from market tracker PharmaTrac. Rival Wegovy, launched in early June, saw cumulative sales of Rs 19 crore in the first three months.

Lilly began production of orforglipron in late 2024 and says it is “extremely well positioned to reach patients at scale from Day 1.”

While Mounjaro leads on weight loss and glucose control efficacy, in terms of long-term outcomes, trials have shown positive data on biomarkers that includes non-HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.

Mounjaro has a weight loss efficacy of 20-22%, while Wegovy has a weight loss efficacy of 16-18%.

Trials are underway testing orforglipron in obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and even as a maintenance therapy after injectable treatment, said Jonsonn.

A key trial extension of SURMOUNT-5—where patients switch from injectable tirzepatide or injectable semaglutide to orforglipron—is expected to report results in Q1 2026.