[News Terms] "1.8 Million Won for a Month"… Kardashian and Musk's Body Secret 'Wegovy'

'Wegovy' is an obesity treatment drug developed by the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, using a drug called Semaglutide as its main ingredient.

Wegovy was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2021 as a prescription medication for weight loss (obesity treatment). According to Novo Nordisk's clinical results, just one injection per week led to an average weight reduction of 15% after 68 weeks.

Kim Kardashian. [Photo by Instagram]

Famous American influencer Kim Kardashian revealed in May last year that she lost more than 7kg in just three weeks to fit into an old dress of Marilyn Monroe, which sparked rumors that Kardashian used Wegovy. Additionally, in October last year, Tesla founder Elon Musk responded to a Twitter question about how he maintains his figure by saying "fasting, and Wegovy," which has fueled a craze for the drug in the U.S. Although the monthly cost is expensive at about 1.8 million KRW (1,350 USD), Wegovy is experiencing a global shortage.

The main ingredient of Wegovy, Semaglutide, was originally developed as a treatment for diabetes. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist, a hormone secreted from the small intestine when food is eaten or blood sugar rises. It helps diabetic patients by promoting insulin secretion.

However, subsequent studies revealed that GLP-1 stimulates the brain's satiety center, recognizing its potential as an obesity treatment. It suppresses appetite by making people feel full, and it is reported that people taking Wegovy testified that they felt full after eating only about one-third of their usual amount.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety granted approval for five types of 'Wegovy prefilled pens' last month, raising expectations for its introduction in Korea. It is expected to be available for purchase domestically in the first half of next year.