By Rishika Sadam

HYDERABAD, June 26 (Reuters) - Eli Lilly ( LLY ) said on

Thursday India's drug regulator had approved the launch of

pre-filled injector pens of its blockbuster weight-loss drug,

Mounjaro, giving it more options to compete with Novo Nordisk's

recently launched Wegovy.

Lilly started selling Mounjaro in India in late March for

diabetes and obesity, and it was so far available only in vials

and in 2.5 mg and 5 mg doses.

The competition in the world's most populous country

started heating up after Denmark's Novo Nordisk

launched Wegovy in India on Tuesday in multiple dose strengths

and an "easy-to-use" pen injector format.

Mounjaro KwikPen, for once-weekly use, has been 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, the

company said in a statement.