Eli Lilly and Co. has reached an agreement with pharmaceutical Cipla to market tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Lilly’s weight loss and Type 2 diabetes treatments, under a separate brand name in Cipla’s home country of India. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

News Release

INDIANAPOLIS — Eli Lilly and Co. has reached an agreement with pharmaceutical Cipla to market tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Lilly’s weight loss and Type 2 diabetes treatments, under a separate brand name in Cipla’s home country of India. The drug will be sold as Yurpeak, while Lilly will continue overseeing manufacturing.

Tirzepatide is currently available globally as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for chronic weight management. Cipla will offer Yurpeak as a prefilled injectable in doses ranging from 2.5 milligrams to 15 milligrams, expanding access in a country facing rising rates of obesity and diabetes.

Winselow Tucker, president and general manager of Lilly India, said: “Our mission – to make life better for people around the world – drives our commitment to accelerate the introduction of innovative medicines and expand access to hard-to-reach communities. With India facing a growing burden of type 2 diabetes and obesity, broader availability of tirzepatide will ensure that more patients can benefit from this innovative therapy.”

The move follows limited sales of Mounjaro in India last spring through vial formats before an injectable pen device received approval. Reuters previously reported the starting price for a 2.5 milligram dose at 14,000 rupees, or about $160.

Company leaders framed the partnership as an effort to broaden availability of advanced therapies and improve outcomes in underserved markets. Cipla said the collaboration supports its focus on expanding access to global scientific innovations.

“At Cipla, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing patient care by facilitating access to the best of global scientific innovation,” Cipla Global CFO Achin Gupta said.

Earlier this month, Lilly confirmed plans to invest more than $1 billion to scale contract manufacturing in India over several years. The expansion includes building a new manufacturing and quality hub in Hyderabad to support growth in the region’s pharmaceutical sector.