Eli Lilly Eyes India as Global Hub for Supply Chain Expansion

Eli Lilly plans to make India a key part of its global supply chain with a $1 billion investment for contract manufacturing. The company's weight-loss drug, Mounjaro, is becoming popular in India, underscoring the rise in obesity treatments. Lilly aims to expand its product line and market reach in the country.

American pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly aims to transform India into a critical hub for its global supply chain, leveraging a $1 billion investment pledge for contract manufacturing within the country, revealed a senior executive.

This decision comes on the heels of Mounjaro's successful launch in India, which saw its sales double rapidly, making the weight-loss drug the firm's top-selling product by value. Considering India's growing obesity crisis, forecasted to result in the world's second-largest obese population by 2050, the demand for such treatments is expected to surge.

Looking forward, Eli Lilly intends to introduce more products to India, such as its Alzheimer's drug donanemab and experimental weight-loss drug orforglipron. As local firms prepare to launch cheaper alternatives to Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, Eli Lilly remains confident in Mounjaro's competitive advantage due to its efficacy.