Eli Lilly's Diabetes Drug Mounjaro Gets Second Brand Yurpeak via Cipla Deal

According to the joint press release issued on October 23, Lilly will continue to manufacture and supply the drug to Cipla, while Cipla will handle marketing and distribution across India. Notably, the price of Yurpeak® will be the same as Lilly’s existing brand, Mounjaro®, which was launched in India in March 2025.

“The introduction of a second brand of tirzepatide in India through our commercial agreement with Cipla furthers Lilly’s commitment to expanding access to innovative treatments for chronic conditions,” said Winselow Tucker, President and General Manager, Lilly India. “Our mission —to make life better for people around the world — drives our commitment to accelerate the introduction of innovative medicines and expand access to hard-to-reach communities. With India facing a growing burden of type 2 diabetes and obesity, broader availability of tirzepatide will ensure that more patients can benefit from this innovative therapy.”

Commenting on the agreement, Achin Gupta, Global Chief Operating Officer, Cipla Limited, said, “At Cipla, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing patient care by facilitating access to the best of global scientific innovation. With the introduction of Yurpeak® (tirzepatide), we are stepping into obesity care with the same commitment and scale that have defined our efforts in respiratory and chronic therapies. Our partnership with Lilly reflects our resolve to address one of the most pressing health concerns of our time and offer patients innovative, accessible solutions that can transform health outcomes.”

Remarkably, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) has become India’s second-highest selling drug by value within just six months of launch, as the injectable recorded Rs 80 crore in sales in September 2025.

Also Read: Rs 233 crore in 6 months: Mounjaro Becomes Indian's second biggest drug by sales

Same drug, new brand — to deepen market reach

The Cipla-Lilly tie-up marks the first time that Lilly has allowed another Indian company to distribute tirzepatide under a different brand name. The agreement is seen as an explicit move to broaden geographic reach into semi-urban and rural markets where Lilly currently has limited presence.

Tirzepatide is the first and only dual agonist of GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptors. It is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise for the treatment of: type 2 diabetes in adults; and chronic weight management in adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30) or overweight (BMI ≥ 27) with at least one weight-related comorbidity.

Same formulation, multi-dose KwikPen

Under the agreement, Yurpeak® will be available in the KwikPen® presentation, a multi-dose, single-patient-use pre-filled pen for once-weekly administration. Each pen will cover four fixed doses, and will be available in six dose strengths — 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg — thereby allowing healthcare practitioners to personalise treatment plans to better suit individual patient needs.

Price parity with Mounjaro

According to The Indian Express, Eli Lilly confirmed that Yurpeak will be priced on par with Mounjaro, at ₹3,500 (MRP) for the 2.5 mg dose and ₹4,375 (MRP) for the 5 mg dose. By contrast, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy is positioned at a higher price point: its lower-dose variants — 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg — cost around ₹17,345 per month, while the 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg doses are priced at ₹24,280 and ₹26,015 per month, respectively. This makes Wegovy a relatively more expensive alternative compared to Mounjaro, which is estimated to cost between ₹14,000 and ₹17,500 per month.

This pricing places the drug at a significantly lower entry point for the Indian market compared to certain global benchmarks noted for comparable therapies.

Growing diabetes and obesity burden in India

India is home to about 101 million people living with diabetes, and nearly half of these adults are reportedly being treated inadequately, with sub-optimal glycaemic control. Obesity, a chronic and relapsing disease, is a major risk factor for diabetes and linked to more than 200 health complications including coronary heart disease, cancer and obstructive sleep apnea. As of 2023, the prevalence of adult obesity in India stood at approximately 6.5%, affecting nearly 100 million people.

Lilly, which launched tirzepatide in India under the brand name Mounjaro® in March 2025, has been a global leader in diabetes and obesity therapeutics. The company said its collaboration with Cipla is aligned with its corporate mission to “make life better” for hard-to-reach communities.

Founded in 1935, Cipla is among India’s top three pharmaceutical companies. With 46 manufacturing sites worldwide and a presence in over 74 markets, the company is known for its strengths in respiratory, anti-retroviral, urology, cardiology, anti-infective and CNS therapies. With the Yurpeak® agreement, Cipla is now entering the obesity-care market directly.