Interview/ Winselow Tucker, president and general manager, Eli Lilly and Company (India) Pvt Ltd
Q/ Mounjaro has shown greater weight-loss efficacy than earlier GLP-1 drugs. But there are concerns about long-term safety, rebound weight gain and muscle loss. How is Eli Lilly addressing these?
A/ Obesity is a chronic, progressive disease and patients deserve for it to be treated like one. It is widely understood that treatments for other chronic diseases, such as hypertension or diabetes, require continued treatment. Similarly, Mounjaro should be part of an ongoing chronic weight management strategy, in addition to healthy diet and exercise. Discontinuation of therapy can lead to weight regain, as shown in the SURMOUNT-4 study. Lilly continues to generate long-term data and work closely with health care providers to ensure these therapies are used appropriately and safely, including in diverse populations such as patients in India. Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority. Our confidence in tirzepatide is based on extensive clinical trials, including SURMOUNT and SURPASS, which involved more than 11,000 patients and have been published in leading medical journals. Regulatory agencies conduct rigorous benefit-risk assessments, and Lilly continuously monitors and reports safety data to ensure up-to-date information for prescribers and regulators. Tirzepatide has demonstrated sustained weight loss along with improvements in cardiometabolic health parameters such as reduction in lipid levels and blood pressure, while maintaining a safety profile consistent with other GLP-1 therapies.
Q/ Given the high monthly cost of tirzepatide, how does Lilly justify its pricing in a country like India? Is the company considering differential pricing or patient-assistance programmes to make Mounjaro accessible beyond elite urban consumers?
A/ Tirzepatide is an innovative new medicine that has already had a tremendous impact on millions of people around the world living with type 2 diabetes and obesity, respectively. This medicine is a first-in-class prescription-based medicine and the only treatment activating two incretin hormone receptors, GIP and GLP-1. We believe tirzepatide is appropriately priced based on the efficacy of the medicine and the value it can bring for individuals, health systems and society to reduce the overall economic burden of type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Q/ There is growing worry about misuse of GLP-1 drugs as “cosmetic weight-loss shortcuts”. What guardrails is Lilly putting in place to prevent Mounjaro’s misuse?
A/ GLP-1 medicines are medically approved, prescription-only therapies and represent important scientific advances, and they should not be regarded or used as “cosmetic weight-loss shortcuts”. Obesity and type 2 diabetes are complex, chronic conditions that require long-term, comprehensive management. These therapies are not lifestyle products; they work best when combined with healthy eating, regular physical activity and ongoing medical supervision. Lilly neither promotes nor endorses the off-label use of tirzepatide for any individual or its use for cosmetic weight loss. Patients should only use tirzepatide when prescribed by a licensed health care professional and prescriptions should be fulfilled and supplied only by registered pharmacies and providers.
Q/ As discussions intensify about including obesity drugs in India’s Essential Medicines List, is Lilly prepared for price reductions and regulatory scrutiny that may follow?
A/ The discussions around inclusion in India’s Essential Medicines List reflect the growing recognition of obesity as a chronic disease with significant public health impact. Improving access is an important goal; however, it is equally important that policies continue to support innovation, quality and patient safety. Lilly does not comment on forward-looking pricing matters. We remain committed to working constructively with the government, regulators and the wider health care community to support responsible access to evidence-based obesity treatments, while ensuring a sustainable and high-quality obesity-care ecosystem over the long term.