Obesity drugs are not prescribed for appetite suppression...The number of prescribed patients dropped by 16% in four years
Mar 24, 2025
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According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the number of patients prescribed appetite suppressants was 1.1 million last year, down 3.8% (43,000) from the previous year (1144,000). The decline reached 15.9% (2.08 million), down from 1.39 million in 2020 for the fourth consecutive year.
As obesity treatments such as GLP-1-based Saxenda and Hugo Bee, which are not addictive drugs and are considered to have excellent appetite suppression effects, have been recognized as substitutes, the number of patients prescribed appetite suppression drugs has decreased. GLP-1 is a hormone secreted by the intestine when food is consumed and helps to suppress appetite by promoting insulin secretion, which is important for blood sugar control.
According to global market research firm 'Evaluate', GLP-1 analogous drugs are expected to generate more than $70 billion (about 100 trillion won) in sales this year. Although the supply price of the GLP-1 obesity treatment developed by Novo Nordisk is high at KRW 372,025 per pen (four weeks), demand has soared as it is called a "miracle diet drug". Semaglutide sales, the main component, are expected to hit $40 billion this year. Tirzepatide, the main ingredient of Eli Lilly, a GLP-1 obesity treatment, is expected to generate $30 billion in sales.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
