On the 29th, inquiries poured into Clinic A in Jongno-gu, Seoul, regarding the Korean obesity drug Epe. The director stated, “For three hours, five patients asked what kind of drug the Korean obesity medication is and whether the price is affordable,” adding, “The drug is just arriving so we cannot prescribe it yet, and the price is also undecided.”
Epe, South Korea’s first glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist developed by Hanmi Pharmaceutical, has thrown down the gauntlet in a market previously dominated by Mounjaro and Wegovy. On the first day of prescriptions, a JoongAng Ilbo reporter interviewed 10 medical institutions in the Seoul and Gyeonggi-do regions, finding only one place where immediate prescription was possible. Kim Yong-oh, an otolaryngology specialist, said, “I prescribed Epe to a patient who struggled with side effects from Wegovy and wanted to switch. About three patients are scheduled for tomorrow, and that number is expected to grow.”
Kim (32), who received a prescription for Epe, stated she paid 190,000 KRW including consultation fees for her initial four-week supply. She previously used 2.5mg of Mounjaro for a month and lost 4 kg, but stopped due to side effects and cost burdens. Kim remarked, “I chose Epe because the price is affordable. Although I didn’t expect much at first, it seems fine with relatively fewer side effects and a noticeable sense of fullness.”
Dosage, Clinical Results, and Pricing Strategy
Epe is administered once a week, with doses gradually increasing from 2mg to 10mg. In a clinical trial of 448 Korean obese patients, the average weight loss rate for the 40-week administration group was 9.75%. Regarding feedback that the reduction rate is relatively low, a Hanmi Pharmaceutical official noted, “It is difficult to make a direct comparison because the clinical trial periods and conditions differ from those of Wegovy and Mounjaro.”
The initial 4-week supply price for Epe is set at 129,800 KRW (two 2mg pens, two 4mg pens), which is about half the price of Mounjaro’s initial dosage product (2.5mg, approx. 278,000 KRW), though actual out-of-pocket costs vary by medical institution. According to the pharmaceutical industry, the price for 2mg (two pens) across 115 medical institutions ranges from 64,000 to 99,000 KRW, while 4mg (two pens) ranges from 98,000 to 135,000 KRW, inclusive of consultation fees. Director Kim Yong-oh noted, “It can serve as a new option for patients looking to reduce financial burdens or maintain weight after initial reduction.”
Supply Outlook and Market Competition
Currently, Hanmi Pharmaceutical is supplying Epe directly to clinics and hospitals, and stock has not yet been released to wholesale drug distributors. Hanmi officials stated, “Initial quantities are limited, and we plan to expand supply step-by-step.” Pharmacy distribution is expected to begin by the end of the year.
However, the emergence of next-generation obesity treatments remains a variable. A corporate worker in their 40s currently taking Mounjaro commented, “Next-generation products for Mounjaro are also coming out, so unless the price advantage is significant, I probably won’t use the new drug.”>
