Co-promotion discussed for the diabetes drug Mounjaro

Lilly aims to list the diabetes indication targeting the beginning of next year

Lilly Korea, "Mounjaro via direct sales'…the company is also conducting undiscloed discussions for potential partnerships with Korean pharma

Product photo of Mounjaro

The possibility of a co-promotion partnership between Eli Lilly and Korean pharmaceutical companies for 'Mounjaro,' the treatment of diabetes and obesity, continues to be discussed.

 

While Lilly Korea officially maintains a 'direct sales' policy, it is reported that they are also conducting undiscloed discussions for potential partnerships.

 

It is anticipated that the decision on co-promotion will become clearer around the time Mounjaro becomes reimbursed for the diabetes indication.

 

According to industry sources on August 26, Lilly Korea recently discussed the possibility of co-promoting Mounjaro with approximately ten domestic pharmaceutical companies.

 

Key major pharmaceutical companies with nationwide sales networks are said to have participated in the discussions, exchanging ideas by proposing their sales strategies to Lilly Korea.

 

However, Lilly Korea's official position of 'direct sales' remains unchanged.

 

An official from Lilly Korea stated, "At the time of launch, Lilly will handle direct sales, and distribution will primarily be through distributors who have direct dealings with Lilly." In other words, it is interpreted as a move to maintain the principle of direct sales while leaving the door open for collaboration with domestic pharmaceutical companies through simultaneous undisclosed discussions.

 

The pharmaceutical industry believes that Mounjaro's 'indications' are the reason why two sales models are being considered simultaneously.

 

Mounjaro currently holds three indications: ▲Improving glycemic control in adult patients with Type 2 diabetes ▲Chronic weight management in adult patients ▲Treating moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in obese adults.

 

With patient groups categorized for diabetes and obesity, the sales strategy must be differentiated.

 

This situation differs from the global market.

 

In the U.S., the same active ingredient (tirzepatide) is marketed separately as an obesity drug called 'Zepbound' and a diabetes drug called 'Mounjaro.' In Korea, however, it was approved as a single product under the name Mounjaro, without using the name Zepbound.

 

Mounjaro is therefore sold as both an obesity and a diabetes drug.

 

The consensus in the industry is that discussions regarding a co-promotion partnership with domestic pharmaceutical companies are focused on the diabetes treatment indication.

 

It is reported that the diabetes indication was a key topic of discussion during the negotiation process.

 

The pharmaceutical industry anticipates that Lilly Korea will pursue reimbursement for Mounjaro's diabetes treatment indication, targeting the first half of next year.

 

If reimbursement is approved, it would be possible to separate the sales strategies for the diabetes and obesity markets.

 

This means that Mounjaro for obesity treatment could be sold exclusively by Lilly Korea's in-house sales team.

 

At the same time, a co-promotion system could be established with a domestic pharmaceutical company for Mounjaro's diabetes treatment.

 

Consequently, the co-promotion partner is expected to be known around the time reimbursement is secured.

 

The high market potential of Mounjaro is the reason for the strong interest from Korean pharmaceutical companies.

 

Mounjaro achieved record-breaking sales in the global market immediately after its launch.

 

As a diabetes drug, its globalsales reached $5.198 billion (approximately KRW 7 trillion) in the second quarter of this year.

 

Zepbound, initially launched as an obesity drug, generated $3.381 billion (approximately KRW 4.7 trillion) in sales.

 

In just three months, the combined sales of the two products amounted to nearly KRW 12 trillion.

 

Considering Mounjaro's significant presence in both the diabetes and obesity markets, it is likely that Korean pharmaceutical companies will find it difficult to pass up this strategic opportunity.

 

A co-promotion partnership could immediately lead to external growth and a synergistic effect with their existing diabetes treatment portfolios.

 

The high potential for future indication expansion beyond diabetes and obesity is also an attractive factor.

 

Currently, GLP-1 class drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy are being actively investigated in clinical trials for conditions such as MetabolicDysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), cardiovascular diseases, and kidney diseases.