60,000 won for Japanese flights, 300,000 won for Korean flights… Controversy over price difference in Maunjaro

The prescription price for the obesity treatment drug 'Maunjaro' is around 60,000 won in some hospitals in Japan, but it is found to be over 300,000 won in Korea, drawing attention to the price difference between countries.

Lilly Korea said on the 13th, "We will do our best to be registered in domestic health insurance," in response to concerns that prescriptions for expeditions to Maunjaro will increase rapidly after the import of therapeutic drugs into the country is permitted.

Maunjaro is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) type obesity treatment developed by Eli Lilly. It is cheaper in Japan than in Korea, so the name 'Sushijaro', which is a combination of 'Sushi', which means sushi in Japanese, and Maunjaro, is popular.

It is known that the prescription price for Maunza in China is much cheaper than in Korea.

In response to a Yonhap News inquiry regarding the price difference between Maunza by country, Lilly Korea explained, "We determine the supply price of Maunza by comprehensively considering the overall value of the product, effectiveness and safety profile, and the market and regulatory environment of each country."

Regarding the differences in drug prices between countries, he said, "It reflects the fundamentally different health insurance systems of each country and cannot be simply compared."

Lilly Korea added, "While the innovative value of Maunjaro is recognized, we are exploring various ways to ensure that patients who need Maunjaro can access treatment," adding, "We will do our best to have Maunjaro listed on health insurance through communication and cooperation with the government and stakeholders."

Lilly Korea's position can be interpreted as not immediately adjusting domestic supply prices, but rather lowering the price of prescriptions for patients by promoting health insurance coverage.

However, Maunjaro prescription prices are much more expensive in Korea than in Japan, even without considering health insurance coverage.

The domestic supply price for a 4-week supply of 2.5 mg, the lowest dose of Maunza, is approximately 280,000 won, and patients usually have to pay more than 300,000 won if they receive a prescription.

In Japan, some hospitals are said to be prescribing the same product for around 7,000 yen (about 59,000 won).

Lilly Korea is pursuing a plan to apply health insurance to type 2 diabetes patients in Korea and is also considering expanding the indications for health insurance in the future.

An official from Lilly Korea said, "We are prioritizing the listing of benefits for indications for type 2 diabetes," and added, "We are also aware that there is an unmet medical need among obese patients in Korea."

He added, “We will continue to pay attention to and cooperate with broad policy changes, including the benefit environment.”