Eli Lilly & Co. shares are trading higher Thursday after the company launched its weight-loss drug Mounjaro in India.

What To Know: According to Reuters, Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, is now available in India at 4,375 rupees ($50.67) for a 5-milligram vial and 3,500 rupees ($40.54) for a 2.5-milligram vial. The pricing is significantly lower than in the United States, where the drug carries a list price of over $1,000 per fill. Analysts note that while Lilly gains a first-mover advantage over Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, the cost remains high for the Indian market. A patient on the highest dose would need to spend nearly 700,000 rupees ($8,100) annually, limiting accessibility for many consumers.

Novo Nordisk has already secured approval for Wegovy in India but has not yet set a launch date. Originally, the company planned for a 2026 release, but its India team is pushing for an earlier debut in 2025. The delay gives Lilly a competitive edge, at least in the short term, as demand for weight-loss treatments continues to rise.

India faces a growing public health challenge with obesity and diabetes rates steadily climbing. According to the International Diabetes Federation, the number of adults with diabetes in the country is expected to rise from 74.2 million in 2021 to over 124 million by 2045. A government survey found that nearly a quarter of Indian men and women between ages 15 and 49 are now overweight or obese, a notable increase from previous years.

While Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly ( LLY ) dominate the global GLP-1 receptor agonist market, which includes drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro, competition is emerging from Indian pharmaceutical firms such as Sun Pharma, Cipla, Dr. Reddy's, and Lupin. These companies are working on developing generic versions to capture a share of what is projected to be a $150 billion global market within the next decade.

LLY Price Action: Eli Lilly ( LLY ) shares are up 0.96% at $845.12 at the time of writing, according to Benzinga Pro.

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