Eli Lilly's Mounjaro Gains Insurance Coverage in China and South Korea, Expanding Global Access
核心洞察
Eli Lilly's diabetes drug Mounjaro will join China's national health insurance reimbursement list on January 1, 2025, significantly expanding access for millions with type 2 diabetes (搜索).
South Korea's Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (搜索) approved Mounjaro for insurance coverage as adjunct therapy for type 2 diabetes (搜索), with benefits expected in the first half of 2025.
The insurance approvals in both major Asian markets follow Mounjaro's strong global performance, with the drug experiencing robust initial stocking in China, Brazil, Mexico, and India according to Eli Lilly executives.
Eli Lilly's diabetes medication Mounjaro is poised for significant market expansion in Asia following insurance coverage approvals in both China and South Korea, moves that will dramatically improve patient access to the once-weekly injectable therapy.
China Adds Mounjaro to National Insurance Program
China's National Healthcare Security Administration (搜索) announced that Mounjaro will join the country's state-run health insurance reimbursement list effective January 1, 2025. The inclusion is expected to significantly expand access to the therapy for millions of people living with type 2 diabetes (搜索) in the world's most populous nation.
The addition to China's national reimbursement scheme typically drives widespread adoption due to substantially lower out-of-pocket costs for patients. However, while insurance coverage often boosts prescription volume, it can also reduce revenue per unit as pharmaceutical companies negotiate lower prices with the government. Eli Lilly has not yet disclosed the finalized reimbursement price for Mounjaro in China.
Mounjaro entered the Chinese market in early 2024, following in the footsteps of Novo Nordisk's competing diabetes medication Ozempic. Ozempic has been available in China since 2021 and was added to the reimbursement list in 2022, helping fuel sales of 5.76 billion Danish crowns (approximately $898.5 million) in the Greater China region in 2024, according to Novo Nordisk's annual report.
Beyond diabetes management, China has also approved Mounjaro for obesity (搜索) and obstructive sleep apnea (搜索), expanding its potential reach as demand for metabolic health treatments continues to rise.
South Korea Approves Insurance Coverage
In South Korea, the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (搜索) (HIRA) determined that Mounjaro has sufficient value for health insurance coverage when used as adjunct therapy for diabetes. The Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee decided that Mounjaro meets the criteria for reimbursement as an adjunct to diet and exercise therapy to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes (搜索).
This approval represents the first mandatory gate that all non-oncology new drugs must pass to enter South Korea's health insurance system. Having passed this evaluation, Mounjaro can now begin price negotiations with the National Health Insurance Service. Barring major variables in the price negotiation process, insurance benefits are expected to be available in the first half of next year when used in combination with other diabetes medications.
Strong Global Performance Drives Expansion
Eli Lilly's international president, Patrik Jonsson, noted during an October earnings call that Mounjaro experienced strong "initial stocking" in major global markets outside the U.S., including China, Brazil, Mexico, and India. He added that performance improved further in the third quarter, contributing to the drug's robust global momentum.
Market Impact and Competition
With Mounjaro now joining insurance programs in both China and South Korea, analysts expect increased competition in the rapidly growing diabetes and weight-management drug market. The moves position Eli Lilly to compete more effectively against established players like Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, while patients stand to benefit from broader and more affordable access to innovative therapies.
The insurance approvals in these major Asian markets represent a significant milestone for Mounjaro's global expansion strategy, potentially setting the stage for similar coverage decisions in other countries where the drug is seeking market access.