Daewoong Pharmaceutical has launched its botulinum toxin product Nabota in Kuwait, marking the brand's seventh market in the Middle East and setting a new record among Korean botulinum toxin manufacturers operating in the region.

According to the company's announcement on Thursday, shipments of Nabota to Kuwait began earlier this month. The Gulf state joins Daewoong's existing Middle East footprint, which includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye, Qatar, Egypt, and Bahrain.

Daewoong emphasized that Nabota now holds the widest commercial presence of any Korean botulinum toxin product across the Middle East, and particularly within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The GCC comprises six oil-producing nations: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman. Demand for premium aesthetic treatments has been rising steadily in these markets, driven by high income levels and strong purchasing power. The global botulinum toxin market, long dominated by established Western brands such as Allergan's Botox, has seen increasing competition from Korean manufacturers seeking to capture share in fast-growing regions where aesthetic medicine adoption is accelerating.

Kuwait's botulinum toxin market is estimated at approximately 24 billion won ($16.6 million), with robust demand for high-end products. The country also offers a well-developed environment for both online and offline promotion of medical products, making it an attractive destination for global aesthetics companies.

Daewoong said it intends to leverage Kuwait as a strategic hub for further expansion throughout the GCC while continuing to build the Nabota brand across the region. In October, the company will host a launch symposium expected to draw around 200 healthcare professionals, including key opinion leaders from both the public and private sectors. The event underscores the role of physician education and clinical demonstration in securing adoption for newer entrants in markets where established brands already have strong physician relationships.

"This entry into Kuwait marks an important milestone as Nabota, which has surpassed 1 trillion won in cumulative sales, accelerates its expansion across the GCC market and advances as a global premium brand," said Yun Jun-soo, head of Daewoong Pharmaceutical's Nabota business division. Crossing the 1 trillion won cumulative sales threshold positions Nabota among Korea's most commercially successful pharmaceutical exports.

"Based on our advanced products and close collaboration with local partners, we will focus on earning the trust of physicians and consumers so that Nabota can establish itself as both a representative botulinum toxin brand of Korea and a leading premium brand in the Kuwaiti market," Yun added.

Source: Korea Herald Business