The obesity treatment Mounjaro has been facing a nationwide shortage in South Korea just three weeks after its launch. Although originally intended as a diabetes medication, its effectiveness for weight loss has become widely known, leading to pharmacies and clinics running out of stock early on. Some pharmacies now require patients to prepay or assign waiting numbers, making lining up for the drug a part of daily life.

A notice saying 'Belly Fat Medicine In Stock' is posted at a pharmacy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

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According to industry sources on September 5, Eli Lilly’s diabetes and obesity treatment Mounjaro, which began domestic sales on August 18, has entered its third week on the market, but it remains difficult to obtain at clinics and pharmacies. Although some stock is supplied by wholesalers and sold, the high number of waiting customers means it sells out quickly. A pharmacy representative said, "We receive stock from wholesalers about once a week, but the schedule and quantity are so unpredictable that even we (the pharmacy) do not know when or if we’ll get it," adding, "Patients ask us every day, but we have no idea when it will arrive," expressing frustration.

As the shortage continues, some pharmacies have begun requiring patients to prepay. Patients report being told, "This week’s supply is already sold out through prepayment, and you need to pay in advance for next week’s batch." Another pharmacy distributed waiting tickets, stating, "You are fourth in line, and we will text you when it arrives." Such practices may violate the intent of the current Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, which stipulates that prescription drugs can only be dispensed with a doctor’s prescription. Receiving payment and promising to reserve the drug before a prescription is presented is also seen as similar to "reserving sales without a prescription," which is potentially illegal.

Amid the supply frenzy, patient safety is also being neglected. Some clinics are issuing prescriptions as requested by patients without conducting body mass index (BMI) measurements or body composition tests. Pharmacies are also criticized for focusing solely on dispensing the drug, without providing guidance on managing side effects or combining it with dietary therapy.

Eli Lilly's diabetes treatment 'Mounjaro'. Eli Lilly

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When the reporter personally sought a consultation, the doctor issued a prescription after only basic questioning, saying, "If you want it, I can prescribe it," with no further guidance on lifestyle changes or explanation of potential side effects. The same was true at the pharmacy. When asked about precautions during the dispensing process, the only response was, "Just follow the prescription as given."

Korea Lilly, the distributor, stated that since the product’s launch, it has been providing kits to clinics and hospitals that include information on dietary and exercise therapy and side effects. However, the company noted that it is difficult to closely monitor and correct the medical practices of numerous clinics. An endocrinology professor at a university hospital said, "Obesity treatments are not magic injections, and personalized treatment along with lifestyle modification is essential for each patient." The professor added, "Authorities need to establish a management system for the prescription and distribution process, and provide clear guidelines for practices that may violate the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act."