Home / Health / India's Weight-Loss Drug Boom: Patient Willingness Drives Market
India's Weight-Loss Drug Boom: Patient Willingness Drives Market
3 Jan
Summary
- Weight-loss drugs lead Indian sales by value despite limited uptake.
- Patients increasingly pay out-of-pocket for expensive metabolic treatments.
- Generic versions are expected to significantly reduce prices and expand access.
In 2025, GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy entered the Indian market, quickly becoming top sellers by value. This success, despite limited uptake, is driven by patients paying out-of-pocket, indicating a significant shift in consumer willingness to invest in expensive metabolic treatments for conditions such as obesity and diabetes.
Clinically, questions about long-term efficacy and patient adherence persist, though cardiovascular benefits are becoming clearer. Semaglutide, in particular, shows promise in modifying underlying disease processes for conditions like coronary artery disease, even beyond weight loss.
The future promises significant changes with the expiry of secondary patents in March 2026, allowing generic versions. This is expected to drastically lower prices and broaden access, further reshaping India's pharmaceutical landscape and metabolic medicine.
