Eli Lilly said on Thursday that 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.

Novo Nordisk has launched its weight-loss drug Wegovy in India, while Eli Lilly's Mounjaro has received regulatory approval, introducing powerful GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists to tackle the nation's rising obesity and diabetes rates.

Eli Lilly's once-weekly KwikPen format for Mounjaro has been approved in India, offering an easier delivery system for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management