Mounjaro Overtakes Keytruda as World’s Best-Selling Drug in Q1 2026

Overview

• Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro generated about $8.7 billion in first‑quarter sales, topping Merck’s Keytruda at $7.9 billion and taking the global No. 1 spot by value.
• Lilly lifted its annual revenue and profit outlook after strong quarterly demand for tirzepatide medicines including Mounjaro and Zepbound.
• Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, a dual‑action drug that targets GLP‑1 and GIP receptors to help control blood sugar, curb appetite, and support weight loss.
• India has become a key growth market, with Pharmarack data showing Mounjaro as the top‑selling drug by value since October 2025 and about Rs 1,009 crore in sales over the past year.
• Cheaper semaglutide copycats entered India after a March 2026 patent expiry, yet Mounjaro kept its value lead as Lilly moves to deepen manufacturing and supply partnerships in the country.