Mounjaro Shortage: Korea Faces Supply Crisis for Popular Weight Loss Drug

Demand for Eli Lilly’s obesity treatment, ‘Mounjaro,’ is currently outpacing supply, leading to significant shortages in some areas. Despite a cost of at least 300,000 Korean Won, the surge in individuals seeking weight loss solutions has left pharmacies receiving only approximately 10% of their ordered quantities.

Supply Disruptions in Early 2024

Data from BRPinsight, a pharmaceutical data analysis platform, indicates that Mounjaro (2.5mg) registered a ‘supply unstable’ rating during the first, second, and fourth weeks of January. Specifically, during the fourth week of January, pharmacies across the country submitted 1163 restocking requests, but only 151 were fulfilled.

Did You Know? Mounjaro saw its prescription volume surpass that of its competitor, Novo Nordisk’s ‘Wegovy,’ just four months after its initial release.

Supply issues extended to other Mounjaro dosages as well. Mounjaro Prefilled Pen 5mg/0.5mL also experienced ‘supply unstable’ ratings for the first three weeks of January, returning to normal levels in the fourth week. The ‘supply unstable’ rating is determined by data from the ‘stock-out and restocking notification’ service of the integrated pharmacy management platform, BaroPharm, and public pharmaceutical data provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.

Previous Shortages

This isn’t the first time Mounjaro has faced supply challenges. The drug experienced a prolonged stock-out lasting approximately 12 weeks last year.

Expert Insight: The rapid increase in demand for these medications highlights a significant shift in approaches to weight management, potentially impacting healthcare systems and pharmaceutical supply chains as more individuals seek these treatments.

Demand Outstrips Availability

The current shortages are a direct result of overwhelming demand. Within four months of its launch, Mounjaro surpassed 100,000 prescriptions. In November of last year, 97,344 prescriptions were filled, a 5.2-fold increase compared to the 18,723 prescriptions in August.

While Eli Lilly states that Mounjaro is not currently out of stock based on the company’s data, they acknowledge a significant surge in demand during January. The company attributes the imbalance to an increase in new patients initiating treatment at the beginning of the year, specifically requesting the starting dose of 2.5mg.

Eli Lilly reports it is analyzing market conditions globally to ensure a stable supply of Mounjaro and is committed to responding quickly to the increasing domestic demand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused the Mounjaro shortages?

The shortages are due to a surge in demand for the medication, particularly at the beginning of January, exceeding the available supply.

Which dosages of Mounjaro are affected?

Both the 2.5mg and 5mg/0.5mL dosages of Mounjaro have experienced supply instability, though the 5mg dosage returned to normal levels in the fourth week of January.

What is Eli Lilly doing to address the shortages?

Eli Lilly is analyzing market conditions and working to ensure a stable global supply, and is committed to quickly responding to the increasing demand in the domestic market.

As demand for these types of medications continues to rise, how might healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies adapt to ensure equitable access for all patients?