Concurrent reimb review likely for Mounjaro and Ozempic

HIRA requests additional supplementary data from Lilly

Attention rises on whether the two will be reviewed at the same time at the October Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee meeting

Two anti-obesity drugs that have drawn intense attention may soon undergo reimbursement evaluations for their diabetes indications at the same time.

 

With Novo Nordisk Korea’s Ozempic (semaglutide) already scheduled for review at the upcoming October meeting of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee, there is growing speculation that Eli Lilly Korea’s Mounjaro (tirzepatide), which submitted its reimbursement application more recently, may also appear on the agenda.

 

In fact, HIRA recently requested Lilly to promptly submit additional supplementary data for Mounjaro’s reimbursement evaluation.

 

Novo Nordisk had already submitted its supplementary data earlier this month.

 

As in all other markets, when supply increases while demand remains constant, prices fall.

 

The pharmaceutical market is no exception.

 

In the era of high-priced medicines, the government has shown a tendency to review two or even three new drugs simultaneously if multiple drugs in the same class are expected to seek reimbursement around the same time.

 

Because of the high cost of these drugs, price competition between manufacturers allows the government to leverage the market’s natural mechanism.

 

Under the national health insurance system, any savings can create opportunities to expand coverage elsewhere.

 

Thus, given Mounjaro’s reimbursement application was filed in July, the government may likely wish to conduct reimbursement evaluations for the diabetes indication simultaneously for the two drugs.

 

It remains to be seen how the fierce competition between the two drugs in the obesity market will extend into the diabetes market.

 

A Novo Nordisk representative said, “We decided to initiate supply of Ozempic in Korea prior to reimbursement to address the unmet needs in type 2 diabetes treatment.

 

We are working closely with the authorities to secure prompt reimbursement approval and further improve patient access.” A Lilly representative said, “We applied for reimbursement listing in order to provide Mounjaro to patients in a fast and sustainable way.

 

We are currently doing our utmost to secure reimbursement for Mounjaro and are continuously collaborating with health authorities.”