India’s anti-obesity drug market has grown more than fourfold in the last five years fuelled by rising instances of lifestyle diseases along with greater affordability and willingness among a section of the population to pay for weight-loss treatment, showed data from industry tracker and market researcher PharmaTrac.
The anti-obesity drug market soared to Rs 576 crore as of March 2025 from Rs 133 crore in March 2021.
While several molecules are available in the anti-obesity segment, data shows semaglutide pill Rybelsus from Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk as the key growth driver of this market. Currently, semaglutide accounts for 69% of the market at Rs 397 crore, up from Rs 11 crore in March 2022.
The recent launch of Mounjaro (tirzepatide), a once-weekly injectable drug for chronic weight management and type 2 diabetes by pharma giant Eli Lilly, has increased acceptance of weight loss products in India. Mounjaro—priced at Rs 3,500 per injection—seems to find favour as an affordable option.
Novo Nordisk is also poised to launch its semaglutide injection Wegovy in India shortly. The drug has also shown cardiovascular benefits in Indian patients.
“Rybelsus had propelled the growth of this market. Mounjaro is expected to supplement and accelerate this growth,” said Sheetal Sapale, VP, commercial, PharmaTrac.
Rise in lifestyle-related diseases coupled with willingness and capacity to pay makes the anti-obesity segment a fast-paced growth segment, she added.
Most of these drugs act by regulating certain processes that make one feel satiated for a longer time. Hence, medication coupled with lifestyle changes are a must for long-term impact.
While semaglutide (Rybelsus) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) are the two most effective anti-obesity drugs found so far, a few other molecules in the segment include orlistat (market value Rs 72 crore), dulaglutide (market value Rs 72 crore) and liraglutide (market value Rs 34 crore).
Eli Lilly’s weight-loss injectable Mounjaro was among the highly-anticipated anti-obesity drugs in recent times, claiming up to 20% efficacy in reducing weight.
Adult obesity affects nearly 100 million people in India, increasingly connected to various types of comorbid conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular ailments, as per various estimates.
“While still an emerging segment, the obesity drug market in India is poised for accelerated growth. This momentum is being fuelled by heightened disease awareness, evolving treatment protocols, and the introduction of new weight-loss drugs,” said Bhanu Prakash Kalmath SJ, partner and healthcare industry leader at Grant Thornton Bharat.
“Globally, new-generation therapies like semaglutide and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro have changed the treatment landscape by offering benefits beyond just weight loss—including improved blood sugar control. Their arrival in the Indian market signals a new phase in how obesity is managed clinically,” he added.
