Eli Lilly has entered into an agreement with Cipla, granting the Indian pharmaceutical company rights to market its blockbuster weight-loss drug under a new brand name — Yurpeak — in India, the companies announced on Thursday.
Under this collaboration, Lilly will handle the manufacturing of the drug, while Cipla will be responsible for marketing it in the country. “Yurpeak will be available as a once-weekly pre-filled injector pen, same as Lilly's Mounjaro Kwikpen, allowing healthcare providers to personalise treatment plans to individual patient needs,” the drugmakers said in a joint statement.
The medication will be offered in six dosage strengths — 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg — and will be priced on par with Mounjaro.
Lilly had introduced Mounjaro in India in late March for the management of diabetes and obesity, initially in 2.5 mg and 5 mg vial formulations. Following regulatory approval from India’s drug authority, the Kwikpen device was launched in June, leading to a rapid surge in sales within just a few months.
Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Yurpeak, belongs to a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which help regulate blood sugar levels and slow digestion, promoting a longer-lasting feeling of fullness.