Weight Loss of Over 20% with Obesity Drug 'Mounjaro' Approved in South Korea

The obesity treatment drug 'Mounjaro' (active ingredient: tirzepatide), which has shown powerful weight loss effects exceeding 20%, has been approved in South Korea.

This medication, gaining sensational popularity in the obesity drug market, is a dual-action GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide)/GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonist supplied globally by the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly.

The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety decided on the 30th of last month to approve Mounjaro, marketed by Eli Lilly, as an adjunct for chronic weight management. Previously, in June of the previous year, Mounjaro had received its initial indication as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Mounjaro is currently evaluated as the only dual-action GIP/GLP-1 agonist. GIP and GLP-1 are types of incretin hormones that influence insulin secretion enhancement, improved insulin sensitivity, reduced glucagon secretion, appetite control, and maintenance of satiety. Mounjaro selectively binds to both GIP and GLP-1 receptors, which helps lower blood sugar levels before and after meals and reduces weight and body fat.

With this approval, Mounjaro can be used as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection for chronic weight management in adult patients, alongside a low-calorie diet and exercise. It is intended for patients with:

A baseline Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or more, or Overweight patients with a BMI of 27 kg/m² to 30 kg/m² with at least one weight-related comorbidity (such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, or cardiovascular disease).

In the past decade, the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity among South Korean adults has consistently increased. Notably, the prevalence of grade 2 (30 kg/m² ≤ BMI < 35 kg/m²) and grade 3 (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²) obesity has surged 1.6 times and 2.9 times, respectively. Obese individuals are known to be at a 12 times higher risk of developing more than four comorbidities compared to healthy adults.

Obesity and related diseases are significant causes of mortality due to non-communicable diseases, and the socioeconomic loss from obesity in South Korea is estimated to be around 16 trillion won annually.

Park Cheol-young, Chairman of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity (Endocrinology Department, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital), emphasized, “Obesity is a chronic disease affecting approximately 17 million adults in South Korea, increasing the risk of over 200 complications such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It causes greater socioeconomic losses than major health risk factors like alcohol and smoking.”

He added, “With the development of new mechanisms of anti-obesity drugs, we hope this serves as an opportunity to consider more proactive medical interventions, including pharmacotherapy, for severe obesity patients who have faced limitations in weight management through lifestyle modifications alone.”

The chronic weight management indication for Mounjaro was based on the results of global phase 3 clinical trials, 'SURMOUNT-1' and 'SURMOUNT-2'.

Kim Gye-won, Vice President of the Diabetes Business Unit at Eli Lilly Korea, stated, “Despite extensive research and substantial scientific evidence, domestic obesity patients still experience stigma and prejudice regarding their weight. With the expansion of Mounjaro's indications in South Korea, we aim to improve the social perception of obesity and create a treatment environment where evidence-based obesity management is possible.”