The U.S. pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly's 'mounjaro (U.S. name: zepbound)' has been approved in Korea as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea following its prior approval for obesity. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition where the airway becomes narrow or blocked during sleep, preventing proper breathing. It is more common in individuals with obesity, making daily life difficult.
Korea Lilly announced on the 21st that mounjaro recently received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for treating moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. It is to be used in adult obesity patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.
Like Wegovy, a weight loss medication from Denmark's Novo Nordisk, mounjaro is a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) class obesity treatment. The GLP-1 hormone is secreted from the intestines after a meal, promoting insulin secretion and lowering blood sugar levels. mounjaro, along with Wegovy, induces a feeling of fullness, leading to weight loss. Initially developed as a treatment for diabetes, it evolved into a weight loss medication due to its weight reduction effects.
Eli Lilly conducted a randomized clinical trial over 52 weeks involving 469 patients with obstructive sleep apnea and a BMI of 30 or higher. The study evaluated the efficacy and safety of mounjaro compared to a placebo. As a result, mounjaro reduced the apneas and hypopneas index by up to 58.7%.
The number of patients with sleep apnea in Korea rose from 90,000 in 2020 to 180,000 in 2024. If obstructive sleep apnea is left untreated, it can lead to daytime drowsiness, making eating, conversing, and driving difficult. In severe cases, cognitive impairment can occur, leading to complications like hypertension, arrhythmia, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Medical institutions began prescribing mounjaro from the previous day. A pharmacist in Jongno, Seoul, said, "There have been ongoing inquiries about mounjaro, but it is not sold out," adding, "Due to Wegovy recently lowering its price, there is still stock of mounjaro available."
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stresses the need to be cautious about the misuse of obesity medications. When prescribing obesity treatments, it is necessary to adhere to dosage, administration, and safety guidelines while providing accurate medication instructions to patients. A representative from Korea Lilly stated, "We will address the complex health issues of domestic patients."