By Rishika Sadam and Kashish Tandon

Aug 13 (Reuters) - Eli Lilly ( LLY ) on Wednesday

launched the easy-to-use injector pen of its blockbuster

weight-loss drug Mounjaro for 14,000 rupees (nearly $160) for

its starting dose of 2.5 mg in India, stepping up competition

with Novo Nordisk.

Lilly said in June it received approval from India's drug

regulator for its once-weekly Mounjaro Kwikpen, two days after

Novo Nordisk launched Wegovy in multiple dose strengths in a

similar pen device.

Mounjaro Kwikpen is available in six dose strengths - 2.5

mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg - with pricing

calculated for a month's supply.

The smallest two doses are priced at 14,000 and 17,500

rupees, respectively, and the 7.5 mg and 10 mg doses cost 22,000

rupees. The 12.5 mg and 15 mg doses cost 27,500 rupees, the

company said.

"If we look at how the highest doses of Mounjaro and Wegovy

are priced, it appears (that) Mounjaro's pricing is attractive

and competitive," said Vishal Manchanda from Systematix

Institutional Equities.

Wegovy's smallest doses of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg cost

17,345 rupees a month, and its highest doses of 1.7 mg and 2.4

mg cost 24,280 rupees and 26,015 rupees a month, respectively.

Lilly began selling Mounjaro in India in late March for

diabetes and obesity in 2.5 mg and 5 mg vials. Both drugs have

seen strong demand since then, with sales in July doubling

month-on-month.

The drugs belong to a class of therapies known as GLP-1

receptor agonists that help control blood sugar and slow

digestion, making people feel fuller for longer.

($1 = 87.6650 Indian rupees)