March 10 (Reuters) - Eli Lilly ( LLY ) plans to launch

its blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drug, Mounjaro, in

countries like China, India, Brazil and Mexico by 2026, Chief

Financial Officer Lucas Montarce said on Monday.

"The size is significant. We're talking about 900

million patients that could benefit from Mounjaro," Montarce

said at the Leerink Partners Global Healthcare Conference.

Global demand for Lilly's and Danish rival Novo

Nordisk's diabetes and weight-loss drugs has been

extraordinary, with the two companies delaying their entry into

new and emerging markets until they scaled up supply.

Mounjaro, chemically known as tirzepatide, is currently sold

in the UK and Europe under the same brand name for both diabetes

and weightloss. However, it is sold under the brand name

Zepbound for obesity in the U.S.

The drug received approval from Chinese regulators last

year.

In February last year, Lilly CEO David Ricks told Reuters

that it expects to launch Mounjaro, in India as early as next

year.