Healthify Sees Big Growth in GLP-1 Drugs for Diabetes and Obesity
Healthify, the company behind the calorie and nutrition-tracking app, is expanding its offerings to include GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, which are used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. Co-founder and CEO Tushar Vashisht told Mint that Healthify expects its GLP-1 companion programs to surpass Healthify’s main revenue in three to four years.
Healthify, which started as a calorie and nutrition-tracking app, sees a surge in demand for weight-loss drugs in India. Adoption will be rapid as prices come down. Vashisht says the company is "hoping to pioneer the companion solution," acknowledging that immediate adoption may be slow. Eventually, he sees a world where every hospital will have a medical weight-loss program, but everyone will need lifestyle support.
Healthify has rolled out offerings that combine GLP-1 drugs with lifestyle coaching. It has partnered with online pharmacy Tata 1mg to offer the medicines and diagnostic services. The company’s three-month program includes 12 doses of Mounjaro, a nutritionist, trainer, dietician, and a GI kit, costing ₹65,000. The six-month program costs ₹80,000, and the one-year program costs ₹1 lakh.
Healthify recorded its first profitable quarter in India in January-March and hopes to maintain this momentum this year. The company aims for a 20% year-on-year revenue growth, with GLP-1 being one of the levers to achieve this.
Healthify wants to address two key issues with weight-loss drugs: the side-effects that affect the gastrointestinal system when taking GLP-1 medicines and the tendency of a majority of Ozempic or Mounjaro users to regain weight once they stop the drugs, requiring lifestyle interventions to maintain the weight loss.
Healthify entered the US market last year and plans to scale up its presence there this year. The company saw that 20% of North American adults have tried GLP-1s, and it has made a significant shift in the way weight management is carried out. Traditional weight-loss players like gyms, calorie-tracking apps, and wellness supplements need to revamp and adapt to the changing conversation or risk becoming obsolete.
Healthify is exploring partnerships with top hospital chains in India for a B2B2C setup. Other startups like Elevate Now also offer doctor-led weight-management services that combine GLP-1s with nutrition and coaching. The competition will also increase in the next few months, but Healthify is banking on its talent offerings, including coaches from the US, its doctor-led platform, and brand value to hold its position.
Reference : https://www.livemint.com/companies/healthify-weight-loss-drugs-anti-obesity-boom-ozempic-mounjaro-healthtech-eli-lilly-elevate-now-tushar-vashisht-diabetes-11746074426569.html
