Wegovy Seeks Health Insurance Coverage as Obesity Drug Price War Intensifies

Novo Applies to HIRA for Coverage Decision
Mounjaro's Dominance; Epe Launch Nears
Cut Wegovy's Supply Price by 40% Last August

Novo Nordisk has begun the process of adding its obesity treatment Wegovy to the list of medicines covered by national health insurance. Since its launch in South Korea in October 2024, Wegovy has not been covered by national health insurance, leaving patients to pay the full cost of the medication. Eli Lilly's Mounjaro is gaining market share, and with Hanmi Pharmaceutical's Epe set to launch, price competition in the obesity drug market is expected to intensify.

According to industry sources on October 12, Novo Nordisk Korea recently submitted an application to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) for a decision on insurance coverage for Wegovy. Patients with severe obesity and coexisting conditions are reportedly eligible for coverage. Novo Nordisk said the application is part of its ongoing efforts to improve the treatment environment since the drug's launch. The company also said it would actively cooperate with the review process.

A model of Wegovy is displayed at an event marking the drug's launch in South Korea. Wegovy is Novo Nordisk's obesity treatment. Yonhap News.

Wegovy is currently prescribed to patients with obesity who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. It can also be prescribed to overweight patients with a BMI of 27 or higher who have at least one weight-related condition, such as hypertension or dyslipidemia. Since October 2025, it has also been available by prescription to adolescents aged 12 and older. If Wegovy is added to the list of covered medicines, patients' out-of-pocket costs will fall. However, for coverage to be approved, it must pass HIRA's cost-effectiveness assessment and a review of its impact on national health insurance finances.

Industry observers see the application as a response to lower-priced competition from later entrants. In August 2025, ahead of Mounjaro's launch, Novo Nordisk cut Wegovy's supply price by up to 40%. Epe received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on October 7, and its first shipment is expected to be supplied in late October. Industry sources estimate that a four-week supply of Epe will cost in the 100,000-won range at the lowest dose. On the same basis, Wegovy and Mounjaro are in the 200,000-won range, so Epe is likely to enter the market at a price tier below both drugs.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.