Obesity has been labeled as a will, so if you can’t lose weight, it’s common to hear people say, “I can’t even do that because my will is weak, so how can I do anything else?” But obesity is not just a matter of ‘will’. Factors that cause obesity include not only genetics but also lifestyle habits, eating habits, and stress. Accordingly, the American Medical Association (AMA) announced in 2013 that ‘obesity = disease.’
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the number of obese people worldwide will reach 1.038 billion in 2022. This means that one out of eight people in the world, one in eight, is obese. Compared to 1990, obesity in adults has more than doubled, and obesity in children and adolescents has increased four-fold. According to the 2023 Obesity Fact Sheet published by the Korean Obesity Society, the prevalence of obesity among Korean adults has continued to increase over the past 10 years, with the prevalence of obesity among all adults reaching 38.4% in 2021.
Adult obesity in Korea is defined as a body mass index (kg/m2) of 25 or more, and abdominal obesity is defined as a waist circumference of 90 cm or more for men and 85 cm or more for women. For women, the obesity rate increased relatively slowly from 23.4% in 2012 to 27.8% in 2021, while for men, it increased approximately 1.3 times from 37.3% in 2012 to 49.2% in 2021, resulting in one in two adult men being obese. That’s it. Like the prevalence of obesity, the prevalence of abdominal obesity is also increasing, reaching 24.5% in 2021 (31.0% for men, 18.2% for women).
Wigobi is divided into 0.24mg, 0.5mg, 1.0mg, 1.7mg, and 2.4mg by dosage. It is known to be effective if you start with a small dose and increase it little by little, and take it consistently.This year was a year in which weight-loss medicine excited the global industry and capital markets. Wegovy, the obesity treatment used by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, is an obesity treatment for adults launched in 2021 by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. Novo Nordisk is a pharmaceutical company founded in Denmark in 1923, and has the largest sales in the field, recording more than 50% of the global obesity treatment market and more than 30% of the diabetes market.
‘Wegobee’ was sold in Norway, Denmark, Germany, etc., starting in the United States in 2021. In particular, in the United States, the price is as high as $1,300 (approximately 1.7 million won) four times a month, so it is sold by Tesla Elon Musk, model and actress Kim Kardashian, etc. As it became known that it was used, it gained sensational popularity. As demand in the US skyrocketed, the European launch schedule was delayed, and it was launched in the UK in September 2023.
In Korea, ‘WeGobee’ was introduced and began sales on October 15, 2024. The wholesaler supply price is set at 372,025 won for a 4-week supply, and when the wholesaler margin, pharmacy margin, and prescription costs are combined, the amount to be borne by the patient is in the range of 500,000-800,000 won. Since its launch, the price has varied between pharmacies, with the main price being 400,000-500,000 won per month, and in areas with high demand, it is sold for up to 800,000 won. The reason it is expensive in Korea is because it is non-covered and not covered by insurance.
Wigobi is a subcutaneous injection placed in the abdomen or thigh, and is known to be quite effective as it is administered once a week. A box of Wigobi contains one syringe and four needles. Wigobi is divided into 0.24mg, 0.5mg, 1.0mg, 1.7mg, and 2.4mg by dosage. It is known to be effective if you start with a small dose and increase it little by little, and take it consistently. Wigobi is a subcutaneous injection placed in the abdomen or thigh, and is known to be quite effective as it is administered once a week. Last year, the ‘WeGobee craze’ broke out mainly in the United States.
In May last year, Novo Nordisk, which produces WiGobee, stopped advertising. The reason was that it sold so well that it could no longer be advertised. WeGobee received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2021. It was called a ‘game changer’ from the time it received approval because it showed powerful effects compared to existing obesity treatments.
WEGOVI is a type of Semaglutide-based obesity treatment developed by Novo Nordisk and is the brand name of a prescription drug that intervenes in the endocrine system. It was originally developed as a treatment for diabetes, but after various additional effects were discovered, it was used as a weight management supplement for obese patients and gained sensational popularity. The core action of semaglutide (GLP-1 analogue) is to suppress appetite by acting on the central nervous system, which regulates appetite. Therefore, it contributes to reducing energy intake through meals and facilitating weight management.
GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1) is one of the hormones secreted by the human intestine. It promotes insulin secretion, which lowers blood sugar levels, while suppressing glucagon secretion, which increases blood sugar levels. It helps with weight loss by lowering blood sugar and maintaining a feeling of fullness, but it is broken down quickly in the body. WeGobee and Zebbound, which have recently been in the spotlight as treatments for diabetes and obesity, have a substance that mimics GLP-1 as their main ingredient, and their efficacy is maximized by significantly increasing the period of time they stay in the body.
GLP-1 type obesity treatments released in Korea include Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals’ ‘Saxanda’ (2018) and ‘WeGobee’ (2024), and Ilarili Pharmaceuticals’ ‘Maunjaro’, which is scheduled to be released in 2025. The ‘Saxenda’ dosage method is daily injection, resulting in an average of 7.5% weight loss (based on 56 weeks of administration), and the price is around 500,000 won (based on 4 weeks of administration). ‘Wegobi’ is an injection once a week, has an average weight loss of 14.9% (based on 68 weeks of administration), and costs around 800,000 won (based on 4 weeks of administration). ‘Maunjaro’ is injected once a week, reduces weight by an average of 22% (based on 72 weeks of administration), and the price is not yet determined.
The global obesity treatment market size is expected to be $8.89 billion in 2024, $22.05 billion in 2026, $40.31 billion in 2028, and $53.95 billion in 2030. It is expected that ‘Wegovy’ will soon surpass ‘Saxenda’, which currently holds the largest market share in the domestic obesity treatment market. The industry expects that if ‘Wegobee’ is a box office success, the domestic launch of competitor Eli Lilly’s ‘Maunjaro’ will be accelerated.
‘Maunjaro’, a GLP-1 type obesity treatment, is a blockbuster (drug with annual sales exceeding KRW 1 trillion) with sales exceeding $4.343 billion (approximately KRW 5.9 trillion) in the second quarter of this year after receiving approval in the United States at the end of last year. am. In clinical trials, it achieved an average weight loss effect of 22% (based on 72 weeks of administration).
‘Wegobi’ is a specialized medicine that requires a doctor’s prescription. It is prescribed for adult severely obese patients with a body mass index (BMI, weight (kg) divided by height (m) squared) of 30 or more, or adult obese patients with a BMI of 27 to 30 and comorbidities of obesity such as high blood pressure. However, some consumers are taking advantage of loopholes in the non-face-to-face treatment platform to distribute and trade Wegobee for beauty purposes. Since it is not a drug without side effects, it should be approached as an aid to weight loss.
Last year, Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals added side effects related to intestinal obstruction to the Wegobi drug manual. Pancreatitis, decreased kidney function, gallbladder disease, and low blood sugar are also reported as side effects. A research team at the University of Verona in Italy published a research paper showing that semaglutide, an ingredient in Hugobee, can cause suicidal thoughts. Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, a Korean corporation, emphasized that it is closely monitoring the use of prescription drugs for purposes other than those permitted, and that it will closely communicate with relevant organizations to monitor, prevent, and provide education.
Some in the medical community are raising concerns about the misuse and abuse of obesity treatments following the launch of ‘Wegobi’. Interest in ‘WeGobee’ from obese patients has rapidly increased even before its launch, raising concerns about its abuse being more severe than when ‘Saxenda’ was launched. ‘We Gobi’ also has side effects, so consultation with a specialist is necessary. In particular, you should not forget that when you stop taking medication, you will gain weight again. In other words, we must keep in mind that ‘Wegobi’ is not a complete solution to obesity.
Meanwhile, three researchers who brought about a revolution in obesity treatment were selected as winners of the Lasker Award, known as the American Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. On September 19, the Lasker Foundation announced that Joel Habener (87), professor at Massachusetts General Hospital, Svetlana Mojsov (77), professor at Rockefeller University, and Lothar Wiere Knudsen (60), top scientist at Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals. It was announced that the advisor was selected as the winner of the 2024 Lasker Award in the clinical category. They were recognized for their contribution to discovering and developing GLP-1, which is the basis for obesity treatments such as WeGobee and Zebbound, which are gaining sensational popularity around the world.
In a situation where more than 1 billion people worldwide suffer from obesity, the aim is to reduce the suffering of obese patients. The Lasker Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in the field of medicine, and many of its recipients have even gone on to win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Given their contribution to solving humanity’s obesity problem, it is highly likely that they will win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine next month. The possibility of winning the Nobel Prize has continued to be raised in that it has treated countless diabetic patients around the world and changed the history of obesity treatment.
The ‘Lasker Award’ is an award given once a year since 1945 to living people who have made significant contributions to the field of medicine, and is managed by the Lasker Foundation, established by Albert Lasker and his wife Mary Lasker. It is becoming.
