MFDS Blocks Overseas Direct Purchase of 'Wegovy'... "Concerns Over Illegal Counterfeits and Misuse"

As soon as the obesity treatment drug 'Wegovy' was launched domestically, it showed signs of overheating, and the government is blocking 'overseas direct purchases.'

On the 16th, the day the global pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk's obesity treatment drug "Wegovy" was launched in South Korea, a notice saying "Wegovy In Stock" was posted at a pharmacy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korea Customs Service announced on the 22nd that they will block the act of directly purchasing recently released GLP-1 class obesity treatment drugs through overseas online platforms and bringing them into the country. They are also actively cracking down on illegal sales or advertisements on online or social networking services (SNS).

GLP-1 class obesity treatment drugs are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) component treatments effective in increasing glucose-dependent insulin secretion, inhibiting glucagon secretion, delaying hunger, and reducing weight. Representative drugs include Novo Nordisk's 'Saxenda' and Wegovy.

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, these obesity treatment drugs must be administered by visiting medical institutions and pharmacies, following the prescribed dosage and method under a doctor's prescription and pharmacist's dispensing and medication guidance. When purchased through overseas direct purchase, the manufacturing and distribution routes are unclear, making it difficult to verify the authenticity of the drugs, and if they are illegal counterfeit products, they may contain harmful substances, so safety cannot be guaranteed. Additionally, there is a risk of users arbitrarily misusing them, which is dangerous.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety requested cooperation from major online shopping malls to set obesity treatment drugs as prohibited words and conduct voluntary monitoring. They are also detecting posts that illegally mediate sales or advertise on SNS and online malls and requesting access blocks from the Korea Communications Standards Commission. Since Wegovy was launched domestically on the 15th, 12 violating posts have been detected and dealt with as of the day before yesterday.

The government plans to continuously share related information to prevent consumer damage caused by illegal sales and advertisements of obesity treatment drugs through overseas direct purchases and to ensure thorough safety management. A Ministry of Food and Drug Safety official urged, "Obesity treatment drugs sold on online platforms should never be purchased or administered."