Eli Lilly has secured approval from the Hong Kong government to market its tirzepatide injections, branded as Mounjaro, for both long-term weight management and the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The drug, administered via a Kwikpen device, is anticipated to be available to patients in Hong Kong as early as the end of this year.
Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and the weight-loss drug Zepbound, positions Eli Lilly to compete directly with Novo Nordisk in the rapidly expanding market for obesity treatments. This approval follows Eli Lilly's receipt of approval in China for tirzepatide in July.
The global weight-loss market is projected to reach at least $100 billion by the end of the decade, fueling a race between Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to scale up production and meet the increasing demand. Both companies' obesity treatments belong to the class of drugs originally developed for diabetes known as GLP-1 agonists.
