V-olet challenges to become a blockbuster fat-destroying inj

Kim Seul-ki, PM of Daewoong Pharmaceutical's Nabota Business Team

Underlying mechanism of inducing irreversible fat cell destruction·collagen synthesis…effective in improving submental fat

72.1% of V-olet Inj recipients showed significantly higher satisfaction…serious adverse event (SAE) has not occurred

Obtained marketing approval in Philippines…plans to seek approvals·launches in other Asia-Pacific countries, including China, Indonesia

Kim Seul-ki, PM of Daewoong Pharmaceutical

Daewoong Pharmaceutical's V-olet Inj, a deoxycolic acid (DCA)-based fat-destroying injectable, is garnering attention as it implements an external expansion strategy to become a global blockbuster drug, following Nabota Inj.

 

Launched in 2021, V-olet Inj is an injectable that demonstrates significant improvement in moderate-to-severe bulging or excessive submental fat in adults through its mechanism of irreversible fat cell destruction and collagen synthesis.

 

It currently holds a 90% market share in the Korean market.

 

Deoxycholic acid (DCA) is a secondary bile acid that emulsifies and breaks down fat in the body.

 

The active ingredient used in V-olet Inj is 100% chemically synthesized DCA, not derived from human or animal sources.

 

Kim Seul-ki, PM of Daewoong Pharmaceutical's Nabota Business Team, stated, "V-olet Inj demonstrated significant submental fat improvement and safety in Koreans through a domestic Phase 3 clinical study." Kim added, "It is currently regarded as the only original product among related products launched in Korea." Notably, 72.1% of V-olet Inj recipients showed significantly higher satisfaction (compared to 25.4% for placebo), and not a single serious adverse event (SAE) occurred.

 

Currently, V-olet Inj's domestic sales are handled by DNC Aesthetics and approximately 500 Daewoong Pharmaceutical sales representatives, and it is highly likely to surpass KRW 10 billion in annual sales soon.

 

Kim stated, "Marketing approval for V-olet Inj was granted in the Philippines, and the company plans to seek approvals and launches in other Asia-Pacific countries, including China, Indonesia, and Thailand.

 

Nabota, a blockbuster drug, is currently marketed in over 80 countries globally, and we are pursuing a product expansion strategy like Nabota." Q&A with Kim Seul-ki, PM, Daewoong Pharmaceutical.

 

-Please introduce yourself. =Hello.

 

I am Kim Seul-ki, overseeing the marketing of Daewoong Pharmaceutical's medical aesthetics pipeline, Nabota, and V-olet Inj.

 

I was solely responsible for the launch of V-olet Inj in 2021, so it has already been five years since its release.

 

-Belkyra was withdrawn from the Korean market, and there was a period without DCA-component products.What was the motivation for Daewoong Pharmaceutical to launch V-olet Inj in 2021? =Daewoong Pharmaceutical strives to develop and market differentiated, high-quality products.

 

I believe DCA fat reduction was one of them.

 

DCA is the only ingredient approved for fat improvement, so its efficacy is not disputed.

 

The problem was that Belkyra was too expensive, which led to its failure in the Korean market.

 

'PPC (phosphatidylcholine),' which is currently suspended from sale but was previously used, and 'combination contour injections,' which most aesthetic clinics still offer, remain very popular fat-dissolving procedures.

 

We assessed that the obesity market and fat-dissolving market would continue to grow, just as GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are gaining attention today.

 

As everyone is aware, Daewoong Pharmaceutical has been manufacturing and selling Nabota for over ten years.

 

We believed that Nabota, indicated for wrinkle and muscle hypertrophy improvement, and V-olet Inj, focused on fat improvement, could create good synergy, and that V-olet Inj could establish itself as the next-generation product following Nabota.

 

-V-olet Inj's initial launch reaction was significant, and I understand it quickly revitalized the DCA market in a short period.

 

What's the secret to its rapid market impact? =It's thanks to our efforts to build trust as the first domestically produced DCA injectable.

 

Notably, its approval as the only specialized pharmaceutical for fat improvement, along with its differentiated mechanism of action for fat cell destruction, was well communicated to medical professionals through significant effort.

 

I believe that actively sharing the experiences of medical professionals with extensive clinical experience in the DCA field, and continuously conducting research to build trust, so that medical professionals can use it confidently, has played a significant role.

 

Initially, concerns arose about potential side effects due to the word 'destruction.' Still, by emphasizing and educating on 'proper injection techniques,' many medical professionals are now using it with peace of mind.

 

Additionally, when V-olet Inj was launched, some individuals were using DCA products with cosmetic approval that were not intended for internal body injection.

 

By emphasizing the importance of approved specialized pharmaceuticals even more, those products seem to have largely disappeared now.

 

I believe we played a significant role in changing market perception as well.

 

-With V-olet Inj's success, many competing products are being launched.

 

There are products like Bellacholine, which was launched last year.

 

What are V-olet Inj's unique advantages?

 

=The biggest differentiator is that V-olet Inj has undergone Phase 1-3 clinical studies and post-marketing surveillance (PMS), which current competing products have not.

 

This allowed us to confirm its efficacy and safety in real-world clinical settings.

 

Since DCA is currently the only approved ingredient in the fat-dissolving market, it was important for us to have clinical data to support its more widespread use, similar to toxins or fillers, in Korea.

 

We have results from clinical studies involving over 960 Koreans.

 

Now, in 5th year since launch, we have accumulated tens of thousands of treatment cases, which is another advantage.

 

-It seems there are many more products available now for obesity and body contouring.

 

Considering the mechanistic characteristics of fat-destroying injectables, what differentiates them from other products?. =Body contouring has become much easier thanks to drugs like Wegovy and various EBD (Energy-Based Device) products available today.

 

However, DCA, meaning V-olet Inj, is the only injectable that can precisely target and destroy fat.

 

There are also fat-destroying devices, such as InMode, but it's challenging to predict which fat layer those devices will target.

 

In contrast, V-olet Inj is injected directly into the middle layer of fat, so it can be said to destroy the core of the fat.

 

Additionally, one might worry about skin sagging as fat disappears, but V-olet Inj promotes collagen synthesis, which also improves skin elasticity.

 

Compared to appetite suppressants like GLP-1 drugs, if you've ever tried dieting, you know that even if you lose weight, areas like a double chin or arm fat don't easily go away.

 

V-olet Inj's advantage lies in its ability to target such areas and smoothly sculpt the body precisely.

 

-In addition to submental fat improvement, research on body procedures seems to be active both domestically and internationally.

 

Do you have plans for indication expansion? =V-olet Inj's approved indication is for improving moderate-to-severe bulging or excessive submental fat in adults.

 

However, based on DCA's mechanism of action in improving fat, we conducted case studies with clinical research on various body areas.

 

The results of a study on arm fat (upper arm) improvement using DCA were published in March.

 

We confirmed for the first time in Koreans the effect of improving fat thickness and circumference in the upper arms.

 

Overseas, research using DCA injectables on various fat-containing areas (e.g., jowls, abdomen, flanks, thighs, accessory breasts [axillary fat], under the buttocks, above the knees, "buffalo hump" neck, under-eye fat, lipomas, etc.) is already actively reported.

 

Internally, we are viewing the market demand and potential for indication expansion positively.

 

Currently, we are starting with small-scale studies, such as case studies.

 

Thanks to its fat-destroying mechanism, its expandability seems limitless.

 

-Daewoong Pharmaceutical plays a pioneering role in the domestic DCA market; however, competition is likely to intensify further.

 

As the leading company in the fat-destroying injectable market, what are Daewoong's future aspirations and plans? =As you mentioned, competition in the domestic DCA market will indeed become very fierce.

 

As various competing products emerge, the DCA market itself is expected to grow, which I view as a positive development from a marketer's perspective.

 

V-olet Inj demonstrated trustworthiness in Korea.

 

To help the DCA market grow to the size of the KRW 100 billion toxin market in Korea, as a pioneer of DCA, we plan to continue research on usage methods to help medical professionals utilize V-olet Inj more effectively.

 

Furthermore, through various activities to deliver correct awareness and knowledge about fat improvement procedures to the public, we aim to create a more valuable market.