Oral GLP-1 Obesity Drugs Set to Transform Korean Market as Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk Advance Next-Generation Therapies
Key Insights
Eli Lilly is preparing to launch its oral anti-obesity (search) drug Orforglipron in the U.S. next year, with plans for rapid introduction to the Korean market following FDA approval.
Novo Nordisk has applied for FDA approval of high-dose oral semaglutide 25mg and a 7.2mg high-dose Wegovy formulation, with decisions expected by early 2025.
Mounjaro has overtaken Wegovy as the leading obesity (search) drug in Korea by monthly prescriptions, reaching 97,344 prescriptions in November 2024.
The obesity (search) drug landscape in Korea is poised for significant transformation as pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk advance oral formulations of their blockbuster GLP-1 (search) therapies, while domestic companies prepare to enter the competitive market with novel treatments.
Eli Lilly Accelerates Oral Orforglipron Launch
Eli Lilly is expediting preparations to launch its oral anti-obesity (search) drug, Orforglipron, in the United States next year. The once-daily glucagon-like peptide-1 (search) (GLP-1 (search)) anti-obesity drug, referred to as "oral Mounjaro," represents a significant advancement in obesity treatment accessibility.
The company plans to apply for FDA approval of Orforglipron before the end of this year, aiming for a 2025 launch. If the drug enters the FDA's expedited approval process, a decision could be made within this year. Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks stated in a recent interview, "We have already secured sufficient quantities ahead of the product launch," adding, "We have completed the production of billions of doses of Orforglipron."
Eli Lilly Korea is reportedly in discussions with the parent company to facilitate rapid introduction of Orforglipron to the domestic market following FDA approval. Additionally, the company plans to launch high-dose versions of Mounjaro in Korea in the first half of next year, utilizing 12.5mg and 15mg doses compared to the currently available 2.5-10mg range.
Novo Nordisk Advances High-Dose Formulations
Novo Nordisk has applied to the FDA for approval of "Semaglutide 25mg," an oral GLP-1 (search) anti-obesity (search) drug taken once daily. This represents a higher-dose product compared to the previously available 7mg and 14mg formulations used for type 2 diabetes (search) treatment.
The company also applied to the FDA last month for approval of a 7.2mg high-dose formulation of Wegovy, significantly higher than the currently approved 2.4mg dose for weight management. This application is under the FDA's priority review process, with a decision expected within one to two months and approval anticipated by the end of this year or early next year.
Novo Nordisk began supplying an oral version of Wegovy in the United States on January 5, taken once daily in the morning with water. Analyses suggest that when dosage instructions are followed, the oral version has similar efficacy and side effects to the existing injectable form.
Korean Market Dynamics Shift
Mounjaro has demonstrated remarkable market penetration in Korea, becoming the top drug by monthly prescriptions just four months after launch. According to data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, prescriptions for Mounjaro reached 97,344 in November 2024, representing a 5.2-fold increase from its first month and surpassing Wegovy's 71,333 prescriptions during the same period.
The total number of prescriptions for Wegovy and Mounjaro reached 168,677 in November 2024, an increase of approximately 2.5-fold in just four months, reflecting the rapidly expanding Korean obesity (search) treatment market.
Domestic Companies Enter Competition
Korean pharmaceutical companies are positioning themselves to compete in the expanding obesity (search) drug market. Hanmi Pharmaceutical is targeting the second half of next year for the launch of its anti-obesity drug, Efeglenatide (search). The company announced that interim topline results from phase 3 clinical trials in Korea confirmed up to 30% weight loss effects.
Caregen (search) has announced clinical results for its GLP-1 (search)-based oral weight loss peptide, Coglutaide (search), raising expectations for a health functional food-type anti-obesity (search) product launch. Celltrion Chairman Seo Jungjin announced plans to develop a "quadruple-action anti-obesity drug" designed to simultaneously activate four metabolic and hormonal receptors with a single medication.
WHO Endorsement Signals Global Acceptance
On December 1, 2024, the World Health Organization issued its first "conditional recommendation" for the use of GLP-1 (search)-based anti-obesity (search) drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro in obese patients. The WHO acknowledged obesity as a chronic disease and announced that GLP-1 drugs could help treat millions of people with obesity.
This landmark recommendation is expected to facilitate incorporation of GLP-1 (search)-based anti-obesity (search) drugs into public healthcare systems in various countries starting next year.
Market Outlook and Generic Competition
The global GLP-1 (search) obesity (search) treatment market is expanding rapidly, with sales estimated to exceed 100 trillion KRW by 2025. The emergence of generic drugs following patent expiration presents another market dynamic, with Wegovy's active ingredient semaglutide patent set to expire in 2026 in countries including India, China, Canada, Brazil, and Turkey. This could potentially reduce costs from several hundred thousand KRW per month to tens of thousands, though the Korean patent is maintained until 2028.