Eli Lilly has committed US$1 billion to partner with local contract manufacturers in India, marking its first major production investment in the country. The funding will support building or scaling facilities capable of producing a range of Lilly’s medicines for both domestic use and overseas distribution.

Since its launch in India, the weight-loss drug Mounjaro has seen sales double within months, becoming Lilly’s top-selling product by value in the market. This rapid uptake underscores the growing demand for obesity treatments as India faces rising obesity rates ahead of projections that it will have the world’s second-largest obese population by 2050.

The new facilities are intended to feed into Lilly’s global supply chain, exporting locally manufactured drugs to markets worldwide. This strategy leverages India’s established contract manufacturing ecosystem to diversify Lilly’s production footprint and mitigate potential supply bottlenecks.

Beyond Mounjaro, Lilly plans to roll out its Alzheimer’s treatment donanemab and the experimental oral obesity candidate orforglipron, once regulatory approvals are secured. These additions aim to strengthen Lilly’s portfolio in India, targeting both neurological disorders and metabolic conditions.