Obesity drugs 'all-season market'…preference for high dose

The obesity treatment market, previously defined as a 'seasonal market,' shifts to 'all-season demand' following the introduction of GLP-1 injectables

Demands concentrated on high-dosage 2.4mg·5mg products…recurring unstable supply, such as stockouts

More patients to clinics amid the reimbursement news…local pharmacies giving up on carrying the products altogether

Injectable obesity treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro are shifting the market landscape. Moving away from the previous pattern in which demand spiked during specific seasons, a stable year-round demand is emerging, while short-term supply instability is emerging, particularly for high-dose products.

According to local pharmacies and the wholesale industry, the obesity treatment market previously was defined as a 'seasonal market,' with prescriptions concentrated during the New Year for weight-loss resolutions or in the period leading up to summer. However, since the launch of Wegovy and Mounjaro, this pattern has been changing rapidly.

An official from the wholesale industry explained, "In the past, demand was concentrated in specific seasons, but recently, a steady sales trend has continued regardless of the season," and that "A key characteristic of these items is that sales volatility has not been significant since their launch."

Increasing demand for high-dose products is being observed even on pharmacy-exclusive online malls. Preference for the 5mg dose of Mounjaro and the 2.4mg dose of Wegovy is prominent, and at times, supply instability, such as temporary stockouts, has occurred.

An official from a pharmacy-exclusive online mall stated, "While the overall sales trend for Wegovy remains stable, demand for high-dose products is particularly high," adding, "There have been instances where temporary supply-demand imbalances appeared."

However, critics point out that the distribution structure remains heavily skewed toward hospitals and clinics. Aside from some large-scale pharmacies, many neighborhood pharmacies are giving up on carrying the products altogether.

Furthermore, analysis suggests that the trend of patients flocking to clinics is intensifying as rumors regarding 'reimbursement status' for Mounjaro have recently spread.

According to industry sources, these rumors appear to have originated from Mounjaro's diabetes indication obtaining 'reimbursement adequacy'. As news spread that it passed the initial hurdle for listing on the reimbursement schedule by passing the Pharmaceutical Reimbursement Evaluation Committee, cases of people misinterpreting this as actual reimbursement have increased.

However, the drug is currently at a stage where follow-up procedures, such as price negotiations and deliberations by the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee, remain. Thus, it has not been reimbursed.

A pharmacist in Gangnam, Seoul, said, "For pharmacies that haven't previously carried the drug, securing the product itself is not easy," and that "Since nearby clinics are actively prescribing and selling, there isn't much incentive for pharmacies to handle it."

The pharmacist added, "As rumors of Mounjaro's reimbursement circulate, demand for direct purchase at hospitals seems to have increased," and that "This trend is concentrating patients at clinics."