Eli Lilly Japan and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC) have announced the launch of Mounjaro subcutaneous injection 2.5 mg / 5 mg ATEOS in Japan.

As the world’s first sustained release GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist, Mounjaro activates two receptors: GIP and GLP-1. Although the structure of Mounjaro is a single molecule based on the natural GIP peptide sequence, it has been modified to also bind to the GLP-1 receptor, and selectively acts for a long time to improve blood glucose.

Mounjaro is administered once weekly by subcutaneous injection with a single-use autoinjector device (ATEOS). Using a special pen injector with a pre-installed needle, the needle is automatically inserted under the skin by pressing the injection button, and a single dose of the filled drug is injected. The patient does not need to set the dose or handle the needle.

The usual starting dose for adults is 2.5 mg of tilzepatide once a week for 4 weeks, after which the dose is increased to a maintenance dose of 5 mg once a week. Of the six dose standards, two, the starting dose (2.5 mg) and the maintenance dose (5 mg), has been launched. The higher four dose (7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg) are scheduled for launch on June 12, 2023.

Eli Lilly and Company obtained an approval of Mounjaro in the United States on May 13, 2022 as the world’s first sustained release GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist and launched it on June 7, 2022. In Japan, Mounjaro was also approved on September 26, 2022. Eli Lilly Japan holds the manufacturing and marketing approval for Mounjaro, while MTPC is responsible for sales and distribution. Eli Lilly Japan and MTPC will jointly provide information to healthcare professionals.