By Rishika Sadam

June 20 (Reuters) - Eli Lilly ( LLY ) said the response

for its blockbuster drug Mounjaro has been "positive" in India,

adding that it is focusing on meeting demand for the drug in the

world's most populous country.

The U.S.-based Lilly beat rival Novo Nordisk in

March this year to introduce its diabetes and weight-loss drug

in India, which is grappling with an increasing disease burden

among its population of 1.4 billion.

Mounjaro has sold more than 81,570 units in India, totalling

about 239.4 million rupees ($2.76 million) as of May, with the

drug logging a 60% rise in overall sales between April and May,

according to data from research firm PharmaTrac.

With its mass-market pricing, Mounjaro could become a

mainstay in obesity and diabetes management in India, PharmaTrac

said.

The global demand for Lilly's Mounjaro and Novo's version

Wegovy has skyrocketed in the last few years, even leading to

shortages in a few countries, including the U.S.

"Since 2020, Lilly has invested over $50 billion to

increase production capacity (for global supply). We remain

fully committed to meeting the demand for our medicines across

the country," the company said on Thursday.

Obesity and diabetes rates have been steadily climbing in

India. A government survey conducted between 2019 and 2021

showed 24% of women and nearly 23% of men aged 15 to 49 were

overweight or obese, up from 20.6% and 19%, respectively, in

2015-2016.

In addition, the number of adults with diabetes is projected

to increase to more than 124 million by 2045 from 74.2 million

in 2021, according to the International Diabetes Federation.

Indian drugmakers are now racing to develop cheaper

versions of the weight-loss drugs to grab a share of the market

estimated to be around $150 billion by the early 2030s.

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, is likely to

go off-patent in 2026 in India.

($1 = 86.6125 Indian rupees)