India has got its first weight loss drug after Eli Lilly launched Mounjaro in the country last week. Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath on Monday took to social media platform X and said that there is still no understanding of the second-order effects of these weight loss drugs.

“People will eat less, smoke less, buy less, and live longer. They’ll also trade less? Insurance premiums have to change, and annuity payouts in pensions will have to be readjusted,” he wrote.

He explained that he has tracking the space closely, especially after Eli Lilly launched Mounjaro in India — a GLP-1 drug considered even more effective than Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic.

“Remember, India has the highest number of diabetics, and if current trends hold, 30%+ of Indians will be obese,” he said.

“The obvious effect is that people can lose 15-20% of their weight, as long as they keep taking the drug. But I’ve also read that the drug can potentially reduce addictive tendencies and compulsive behaviors like alcoholism, smoking, gambling, and so on. There’s some evidence to show that these drugs can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, dementia, and Alzheimer’s; improve mental health; and so on. I don’t know if all of these things are true, and it’s early days,” Kamath said.

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But even if half of what’s being reported is true, then this will be the closest thing we’ve seen to a miracle drug, he wrote.

So far, not many people are taking them; even in the US, only about 6 percent of the people are taking these drugs. With just this, FMCG companies like Walmart are saying that these drugs are affecting purchasing behavior, Kamath highlighted.

“What would happen if more people started taking these drugs? We’ll have an across-the-board effect on every single industry…the patents on the active ingredient in this drug is expiring in 2026, which means, cheaper generics will be available. Is the world ready for this,” he said.

A single-dose vial of Mounjaro costs Rs. 3,500 for 2.5 mg or Rs. 4,375 for 5 mg. On a typical weekly dose, that adds up to over Rs. 2 lakh a year. The drug contains tirzepatide, mimics a hormone that regulates blood sugar and appetite. While originally developed for diabetes, it’s shown remarkable weight-loss benefits.