[Edaily Reporter NA EUN-KYUNG ] “Wegovy and Mounjaro are drugs that patients already know by name and come in specifically to request prescriptions for. Whether patients will readily accept a lesser-known drug simply because it is cheaper is a separate issue.”

A professor in the Department of Endocrinology at a university hospital, who requested anonymity, outlined the conditions for the market success of “Epe,” the first domestically developed glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) class obesity drug from HanmiPharm(128940), as described above. Although it was reported that HanmiPharm had set the price of “Epe” for the first month at around 130,000 won, reactions from the medical community have been marked more by concern than by optimism. This is because being cheaper than existing drugs is not the same as being cheap enough to persuade patients to switch medications. We examined the competitiveness of “Epe,” now that its pricing details have been revealed, from the perspective of prescribers.

130

,000 won for the first month… Long-term treatment costs and brand awareness are key variables

According to industry sources on the 14th, the supply price for Epe by treatment stage has been set at 129,800 won for the

first month

based on a 2–4 mg dosage. Subsequent 4-week supplies are priced at 228,800 won for 6 mg, 277,200 won for 8 mg, and 299,200 won for 10 mg. However, since these are supply prices, the actual out-of-pocket cost for patients may vary depending on pricing by medical institutions and pharmacies, as well as medical fees.

Epe is a once-weekly injectable medication; to minimize side effects, the dosage is gradually increased starting from a low dose. Although the initial cost has been reduced, the cost after the dosage is increased is also important for patients who will continue treatment long-term. This is because obesity treatment in Korea is not covered by insurance, so patients must bear the full cost of the medication.

Prior to the announcement of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, Professor Kim Dae-jung of the Department of Endocrinology at Ajou University Hospital commented on the monthly cost to patients, stating, “If the cost is around 150,000 won for the low dose and 200,000 won for the high dose, doctors would be less hesitant to recommend the medication.” Although Epe’s distribution price for the first month is lower than these benchmarks, it exceeds the high-dose price after the dosage is increased.

The name recognition of existing products is another hurdle to overcome. A professor who requested anonymity previously noted, “If a patient comes in asking for a well-known medication, the doctor simply prescribes it and explains the precautions.” However, he added, “It remains to be seen whether patients will readily accept a drug with relatively less accumulated clinical evidence simply because it is cheaper.”

The perceived price difference may also vary depending on whether it is covered by out-of-pocket medical expense insurance. The professor said, “I understand that some patients with diabetes receive partial reimbursement for the cost of existing medications through out-of-pocket medical expense insurance,” adding, “In such cases, the cost difference compared to Epe may not be as significant as expected, so whether Epe is covered by this insurance will also be a key factor.”

HanmiPharm maintains that it set the price with patient accessibility as its top priority. A HanmiPharm spokesperson stated, “We will focus our efforts on promoting public health rather than engaging in mere price competition.” Regarding the specific price, the spokesperson explained, “Since this is a non-reimbursable prescription drug, the company’s supply price and the final amount paid by the patient are not the same; disclosing the specific supply price could cause confusion, so it is difficult to do so.”

Price cuts for competing drugs ultimately depend on prescription shifts

It remains to be seen whether Epe will trigger a chain reaction of price cuts for Wegovy and Mounjaro. Last August, ahead of the launch of Mounjaro, Novo Nordisk Korea lowered the ex-factory price for a four-week supply of the starting dose of Wegovy from 372,000 won to 216,000 won—a reduction of approximately 42%.

However, it remains to be seen whether the same response will occur this time. Professor Lee noted, “If patients switch to Epe, competitors might lower their prices as well, but the key question is whether they view Epe as a sufficiently threatening competitor,” adding, “Clinical evidence supporting efficacy is just as important as price.” A representative from Novo Nordisk Korea also stated, “At this stage, there are no discussions regarding a price reduction for Wegovy.”

In a Phase 3 clinical trial involving 448 Korean patients with obesity, Epe demonstrated an average weight loss rate of 9.75% after 40 weeks. However, some observers note that the competitiveness of the drug cannot be explained solely by the fact that the clinical trial was conducted on Koreans. Professor Lee said, “While there is a slight difference in efficacy between GLP-1 agonists and Asians, Asians were also included in large-scale clinical trials for existing drugs,” adding, “Rather than competing solely on price, it is important to accumulate more clinical evidence supporting the drug’s efficacy.”

Professor Kim Byung-jun of the Department of Endocrinology at Gachon University Gil Medical Center said, “It is encouraging that an anti-obesity drug developed by a domestic pharmaceutical company and tested in clinical trials on Koreans has been released, and the price is also lower than that of existing products,” adding, “However, we need to monitor future trends to see how it will be received in the actual market.”