Hassan Galadari, a dermatologist from the United Arab Emirates, delivers a presentation at Daewoong Pharmaceutical's symposium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Jan. 24. (Daewoong Pharmaceutical)
Hassan Galadari, a dermatologist from the United Arab Emirates, delivers a presentation at Daewoong Pharmaceutical's symposium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Jan. 24. (Daewoong Pharmaceutical)

South Korea's leading drugmaker Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on Friday that it has officially launched its botulinum toxin product Nabota in Saudi Arabia, the largest market for the neurotoxin medication in the Middle East.

The launch comes after the drugmaker received product approvals from the US Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency and Health Canada, reinforcing Nabota’s global credibility and quality.

Saudi Arabia, the largest economy in the Middle East, is seeing a growing interest in aesthetics as it undergoes societal and cultural liberalization.

As fashion norms become more relaxed, demand for beauty treatments is rising, which makes it a promising market for Korean products.

According to global research firm Astute Analytica, Saudi Arabia’s beauty and cosmetic surgery market is projected to grow from $7.899 billion in 2023 to $18.778 billion by 2032.

However, Saudi Arabia’s stringent regulatory requirements remain a significant challenge that botulinum toxin products have to clear.

Beyond obtaining product approval, companies are obligated to pass rigorous quality assessments by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority before their products enter the market.

Nabota, a premium high-purity botulinum toxin produced using Daewoong’s patented "Hi-Pure Technology" and vacuum drying process, was the first Asian botulinum toxin to receive FDA approval in 2019.

To achieve a 98 percent purity of the 900-kilodalton botulinum toxin complex, Nabota undergoes a purification process that removes impurities from the raw material, ensuring fast and precise effects. Additionally, its drying process prevents ice nucleation, reducing the risk of inactive toxins that may cause resistance, further enhancing its safety profile.

"Nabota has the same molecular structure as AbbVie’s Botox, which dominates the Saudi market, and offers equal or superior efficacy," a Daewoong Pharmaceutical official said. "This is expected to accelerate product adoption and expand market share."

Ahead of the launch, Daewoong Pharmaceutical hosted a symposium on Jan. 24 in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, with some 300 local medical professionals in attendance.

Hassan Galadari, a dermatologist from the United Arab Emirates, delivered a lecture titled "Change the Game: Prabotulinum Toxin," sharing Nabota’s global clinical trial results and application techniques.

"Nabota is a proven product with efficacy and safety validated through clinical trials and regulatory approvals in advanced markets," Galadari said. "It stands out in terms of precision, longevity and patient satisfaction."

Amr Abduljabbar, a Saudi dermatologist who chaired the event, emphasized that the symposium provided an opportunity to assess Nabota’s advanced manufacturing process and global clinical data. "Nabota is poised to become a game-changer in Saudi Arabia, a key player in the Middle East and Africa’s botulinum toxin market," he said.

According to Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Nabota is the most widely exported high-purity, high-quality botulinum toxin from Korea, with regulatory approvals in 69 countries and export contracts in over 80.

By Kim Hae-yeon (hykim@heraldcorp.com)