"Low doses are gone now": A visit to the Mounjaro "mecca" around Jongno 3-ga [Field report]

As the weight-loss effects of the Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) class drug Mounjaro gain attention, demand for prescriptions is surging. Some pharmacies that sell the drug at lower prices than the market rate are experiencing severe shortages of the lower-dose products. Concerns are growing about potential abuse of the drug, as this situation is unlikely to be driven solely by patients who are obese or have blood sugar disorders and need it for treatment.
According to pharmaceutical data analysis platform BRP Insight on the 19th, the supply index for Mounjaro prefilled pens in 2.5 mg and 5.0 mg doses was rated "unstable" in the second week of February. In the first week of February, pharmacies nationwide submitted 1,358 restocking requests, but only 51 were actually filled, indicating a shortage of supply.
To check the reported shortage of Mounjaro, this reporter visited the area around Jongno 3-ga on the afternoon of the 13th, just before the Lunar New Year holiday. The neighborhood has several clinics and pharmacies that have become known as a "Mounjaro mecca" because they offer quick and easy prescriptions and sell the drug for tens of thousands of won less than other hospitals or pharmacies.
Even on a weekday afternoon, more than 10 people were waiting for their turn in the clinic’s waiting room. Among them were several people who appeared to be of average build or even slimmer. One middle-aged man who tried to obtain a prescription on someone else’s behalf was stopped and turned away.
The clinic was selling the drug along with issuing prescriptions, but the prices for the 2.5 mg and 5.0 mg doses of Mounjaro were covered up. A clinic staff member said, "The low-dose products are sold out, but you can get them at the pharmacy right next door," adding, "We secured a generous amount of stock, but it has already all been used up." The pharmacy said, "We do have stock at the moment, but it is selling out quickly," and added, "Once this shipment runs out, it probably will not be available again until March. We are working hard to secure additional supplies."
When this reporter revisited the same pharmacy on the 19th, after the long holiday, 5.0 mg Mounjaro was no longer available. Instead, two women were seen each carrying three boxes of the 2.5 mg dose. Asked when the 5.0 mg dose would be back in stock, the pharmacist replied, "I have no way of knowing." Most pharmacies in the Jongno area were out of the 5.0 mg dose that day, and remaining stock was found mainly at clinics and pharmacies where the price per box was 20,000 to 30,000 won higher.
A representative of Eli Lilly Korea, which manufactures and supplies Mounjaro, explained, "For the 5 mg dose, demand has grown rapidly as more patients than initially expected have started treatment and stayed on it," and added, "Because of the Lunar New Year holiday, global production and shipping schedules were temporarily adjusted, which caused some delays in supply."
Reflecting this, posts have been appearing frequently on online communities saying things like, "I got a prescription for 7.5 mg instead of 5.0 mg Mounjaro," and "Wegovy has the same effect, so I will switch to the cheaper Wegovy while I am at it."
Experts warn that GLP-1 drugs are fundamentally diabetes treatments before they are obesity medications, and that patients must consult a specialist when starting or increasing the dose.
Kim Jeong-mi, director of the Seoul Kim Internal Medicine Clinic, said, "The standard for increasing the dose of Mounjaro is neither that you are losing too little weight nor that your blood sugar is not controlled," and emphasized, "If, after taking the smallest 2.5 mg dose, you feel full and can control your food intake for about five to seven days, you should stay at that dose. You only increase the dose when that interval becomes shorter."

wonder@fnnews.com Jeong Sang-hee Reporter