A seizure of counterfeit Mounjaro injections worth nearly Rs 70 lakh in Gurugram has once again exposed the growing underbelly of India’s booming market for GLP-1-based therapies.
The Haryana drug control authorities’ crackdown in the satellite city of Delhi underscores a worrying trend: as demand for high-value diabetes and weight-loss drugs surges, so does the proliferation of spurious and substandard versions.
Mounjaro, manufactured by US-based Eli Lilly, contains tirzepatide and belongs to a new class of GLP-1 receptor agonists widely prescribed for type II diabetes and increasingly for obesity management.
The drug was launched in India in March last year in vial format and later introduced as a more user-friendly KwikPen after rival semaglutide entered the market with a similar delivery system.
Its rapid uptake has been reflected in sales data – Mounjaro clocked Rs 114 crore in sales, the highest for a drug in the country last month, according to Pharmarack. In October last year, it had become the highest selling drug by value and has retained the position since.
India’s appetite for GLP-1 therapies has expanded sharply, driven by rising diabetes prevalence and growing off-label demand for weight loss. Weekly treatment with Mounjaro costs range from Rs 3,500 for the lowest 2.5 mg dose to nearly Rs 6,875 for the highest 15 mg strength, making it one of the country’s highest-selling and most expensive drug categories.
Such high price points and sustained demand have made this drug an attractive target for counterfeiters. The Gurugram seizure highlights how illicit networks are attempting to exploit supply gaps and patient desperation.
While authorities have not yet clarified whether the seized stock falls under “not of standard quality” (NSQ) or outright spurious drugs, early indications suggest deliberate attempts to mimic the original product.
Fake drugs in India broadly fall into two categories. NSQ drugs fail to meet prescribed quality benchmarks and may be ineffective, while spurious drugs are deliberately manufactured to imitate genuine products, often posing serious safety risks.
The distinction is critical, but both categories undermine treatment outcomes and erode trust in the healthcare system.
Preliminary inspection of the seized Mounjaro stock revealed inconsistencies in packaging, including irregular font sizes on labels and cartons- subtle deviations that can easily escape an untrained eye.
However, experts warn that visual discrepancies are only one part of a broader risk matrix.
According to Dr Rajeev Kovil, a Mumbai-based diabetologist and metabolic disease specialist, the source of purchase remains the single biggest red flag.
“If it’s being sold outside licenced pharmacies or through Instagram, WhatsApp, or other social media channels without a valid prescription, it’s a warning sign,” he told media.
GLP-1 drugs like Mounjaro are temperature-sensitive biologics that must be stored and transported within a strict 2–8°C range. Any break in the cold chain can compromise efficacy – even if the product is genuine. “If a drug arrives without medical-grade cold packaging, it is either compromised or potentially fake,” Dr Kovil added.
Clinically, the consequences can be unpredictable. Patients using counterfeit or degraded products may show no therapeutic response or, worse, experience exaggerated side effects. This unpredictability makes spurious GLP-1 drugs particularly dangerous compared to conventional small-molecule medicines.
The Gurugram incident also points to systemic vulnerabilities in India’s pharmaceutical distribution ecosystem. While regulatory oversight has improved, enforcement gaps remain, particularly in fast-growing urban peripheries where informal supply chains thrive.
The rise of online and social media-driven drug sales has further complicated monitoring efforts. Platforms that bypass traditional pharmacy networks often operate in regulatory grey zones, making it difficult to track the origin and authenticity of products.
Experts argue that patient awareness is now as critical as regulatory vigilance. Basic checks – such as verifying batch numbers, inspecting packaging for spelling errors or blurred logos, and ensuring purchase from licensed chemists – can significantly reduce risk.
Pricing, too, can be a giveaway; unusually steep discounts on high-value biologics often signal compromised quality.
Dr Kovil emphasized that GLP-1 therapy is not just about the molecule but an integrated system involving controlled manufacturing, cold chain logistics, and supervised clinical use. “If the ecosystem is broken at any point, the therapy itself becomes unreliable,” he noted.
Source: India Today