(Updates paragraph 1, adds details on Novo Nordisk and Eli

Lilly ( LLY ))

June 26 (Reuters) -

India's drug regulator on Thursday

approved

the launch of pre-filled injector pens of Eli Lilly's ( LLY )

blockbuster weight-loss drug, Mounjaro, giving the

company more options to compete with rival Novo Nordisk's

recently launched Wegovy.

India, the world's most populous country, has high obesity

rates and the second-highest number of people with type 2

diabetes. Around 11% of Indian adults are expected to become

obese by 2035, according to the World Obesity Federation Atlas.

Here are the local and international drugmakers also eyeing

the Indian market and looking to introduce rivals to Lilly's

drug:

NOVO NORDISK

The Danish drugmaker launched its blockbuster weight-loss

drug Wegovy in India on June 24, three months after Eli Lilly ( LLY )

began marketing its rival product Mounjaro.

The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide, which is

likely to go off-patent in 2026 in India.

Wegovy and Lilly's Mounjaro belong to the same class of

treatments called GLP-1 agonists, which soared into popularity

globally triggering a shortage of supply.

GLP-1 drugs mimic a gut hormone that helps control blood

sugar levels and slow digestion, making people feel fuller for

longer.

ELI LILLY ( LLY )

Lilly

started

selling Mounjaro in India in late March for diabetes and

obesity, beating rival Novo to the market. The doses available

were 2.5 mg and 5 mg vials.

On Thursday, Mounjaro KwikPen - for once-weekly use -

was approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization

for six dose strengths of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg

and 15 mg.

SUN PHARMA

Sun Pharmaceutical , India's largest drugmaker by

revenue, is developing its own GLP-1 treatment, utreglutide, for

weight loss and type 2 diabetes.

The drugmaker said earlier this month it expects to launch

the drug in the next four to five years.

BIOCON

Indian drugmaker Biocon is developing its own

version of Novo's Wegovy, as the drug is set to lose exclusivity

next year in emerging markets such as India, Brazil, Mexico, and

Saudi Arabia.

ZYDUS LIFESCIENCES

India's Zydus Lifesciences is developing the

generic version of Semaglutide and plans on launching the drug

after its patent expires in India.

CIPLA

Cipla, India's third-largest drugmaker by sales,

is among the Indian drugmakers making cheaper versions of Novo's

Wegovy.

Cipla has also said it is open to partnering with Lilly to

market Mounjaro in India.

DR. REDDY'S

India's Dr. Reddy's has said it plans to launch

generic versions of Semaglutide in all the markets as Novo's

patent expires.

LUPIN

India's Lupin is another generic drugmaker looking

to grab a share of the burgeoning obesity treatment market with

its own version of Novo's Wegovy.

NATCO, MANKIND PHARMA, AUROBINDO PHARMA

Media reports say India's Natco Pharma, Mankind

Pharma, Aurobindo Pharma are also developing

cheaper versions of Novo's Wegovy.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the reports.