Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

Record high scrips for Mounjaro for weight loss raise concern that urgent medical cases will get left out

Monthly prescriptions of obesity and diabetes management drug Mounjaro have surpassed 200,000 for the first time in March, raising concerns that demand for the drug by people seeking to lose weight could limit access for other patients.

2026-04-16

Korean developers take part in global boom in obesity treatments

The global boom in obesity treatments has evolved into a race centered on edible weight loss medications among pharmaceutical companies worldwide — and Korean developers are also taking part.

2026-04-13

Six out of 10 diet pill users in Korea not obese, report says

A new report indicates that 70% of diet pill users experience side effects, including severe issues like suicidal thoughts. The study, involving 257 participants aged 19 to 64, found that 60% were not obese, raising concerns about misuse.

2026-03-16

Novo Nordisk launches Wegovy weight-loss pill for sale in U.S.

Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk is launching its once-daily Wegovy pill in the United States on Monday, offering doses of 1.5 milligrams and 4 milligrams at $149 per month for self-paying patients in an intensely competitive weight-loss drug market.

2026-01-06

Koreans rush to reclaim Mounjaro orders stuck at customs

Korean customs officers have been grappling with an unexpected rush of travelers at Incheon International Airport, many hoping to reclaim seized packages of the weight-loss drug Mounjaro that they ordered from cheaper overseas sellers.

2025-11-20

Five companies busted for falsely marketing quick-fix diet aids

Five companies have been busted for falsely marketing ordinary foods online as quick-fix diet aids, touting them as everything from “edible Wegovy” to appetite suppressants and fat-burning cures.

2025-08-20

Eli Lilly's Mounjaro to land in Korea, setting off price war with Wegovy

Eli Lilly’s cut-price Mounjaro lands in Korea next week, ending Novo Nordisk’s domestic monopoly and igniting a price war in the weight loss drug market, while Wegovy will switch to tiered pricing in a global first.

2025-08-13

Pfizer ends development of weight-loss pill danuglipron

Pfizer on Monday said it had discontinued the development of the experimental weight-loss pill danuglipron after a trial patient experienced a potential drug-induced liver injury, which resolved after the medication was stopped.

2025-04-14

Hanmi seeks to gain on Wegovy with its own weight-loss drug

Hanmi Pharmaceutical is working on its own range of weight-loss treatments tailored to the Korean market.

2025-01-16

Weight-loss drug Wegovy to hit market on Tuesday

Weight-loss drug Wegovy will go on sale in Korea on Tuesday, with the much-anticipated injectable drug available for order through Zeullig Pharma Korea.

2024-10-14