'Obesity Drug Regulation Moves'... 'Still Moving Forward'

[Financial News] The government has begun tightening oversight of new obesity drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro to prevent misuse. However, the pharmaceutical and biotech industries believe these measures will serve as a foundation for healthy growth, rather than hindering market expansion. The regulations are not intended to restrict demand for obesity drugs, but are expected to streamline prescription and distribution in the short term, and build market trust and investment in the long run.
According to industry sources on the 29th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare is considering designating Wegovy and Mounjaro as 'drugs of concern for misuse,' citing that off-label prescriptions for cosmetic purposes are inappropriate.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, authorities are also intensifying crackdowns on in-house dispensing by medical institutions that violate the separation of prescribing and dispensing. Some hospitals have reportedly been directly selling injectables for non-reimbursed profit, or providing self-injectable drugs to patients without pharmacist guidance.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare emphasized that these measures are not intended as punishment, but are part of a systemic overhaul to ensure patient safety and restore confidence in pharmaceuticals. While proper educational guidance on injections will be permitted, the ministry plans to strictly sanction illegal commercial compounding.
To prevent the misuse of obesity drugs, the government is also strengthening measures to block indiscriminate illegal sales and solicitation advertisements online. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is intensifying monitoring, shutting down sites and referring cases for investigation when such activities are detected.
Despite these controls, the global obesity drug market continues to grow. In the domestic market, demand for obesity drugs is surging. According to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA), the number of obesity drug prescriptions in the first half of this year reached 1,141,800. This figure represents 63% of last year’s total (1,813,386), making it likely that annual prescriptions will surpass 2 million. Industry insiders view the government’s actions as a process of 'cleansing' the market, rather than suppressing it.
An industry official commented, 'Given the recent overheating, with concerns over illegal prescriptions and non-medical distribution, these measures are a necessary maturation phase for the industry to achieve a sustainable structure.'
vrdw88@fnnews.com Kang Jung-mo Reporter