Eli Lilly to Launch Mounjaro in Korea on August 21

Eli Lilly’s obesity treatment Mounjaro (tirzepatide) will be available for prescription in South Korean medical institutions starting August 21, the company announced on August 14.

Administered once weekly, Mounjaro selectively binds to GIP and GLP-1 receptors, stimulating insulin secretion, improving insulin sensitivity, reducing glucagon levels, and delaying gastric emptying—helping control blood sugar and support weight loss.

Last month, Lilly shipped 2.5 mg/0.5 mL and 5 mg/0.5 mL formulations, the lowest available doses, to Korea. Higher doses (7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 15 mg) were excluded from the initial batch. Industry observers see this as a strategy to gauge local market demand, as treatment typically starts at a low dose and increases by 2.5 mg every four weeks. The first shipment will allow at least eight weeks of treatment before higher doses are introduced.

Prescriptions will be available nationwide from August 21, though distribution timelines may vary by region depending on wholesalers. In tertiary hospitals, additional time may be needed for Drug Committee reviews.

The launch is set to intensify competition in the obesity drug market. Industry forecasts suggest Mounjaro’s highest-dose ex-factory price will be 10–20% lower than Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide). In response, Wegovy’s wholesale prices are expected to drop by 10–42% depending on dose.

Korean pharmaceutical companies, including Chong Kun Dang, Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Hanmi Pharmaceutical, and Boryung, are vying to handle South Korean sales for both Mounjaro and Wegovy, with marketing strategies from the two global players expected to become clearer in the coming weeks.