A KOREAN antiwrinkle product has been officially launched in the Philippines, which is expected to hold at least 15 percent of the aesthetic market by end of this year.
Nabota Philippines Brand Manager Christopher Cachuela told the BusinessMirror that the country has a big potential for beauty-enhancing products, given the increasing number of Filipinos who are conscious of their looks apart from their well-being. Industry figures show that the local market for aesthetic products grows in a year by 11 percent, and this is projected to further rise as the country’s flourishing economy and strong buying power of consumers continue.
With this in mind, Daewoong Pharma Philippines has widened its drug portfolio since its inception in 2007. “We have a lot of products for bone and wound care. That’s why last year, we expanded to skin and beauty,” he said. From its primary focus on orthopedic-surgery and advanced wound-care system, the company started its foray in dermatology with the introduction of Perfectha filler in 2014, and now in aesthetics via a botulinum toxin-type formula called Nabota.
The difference of Nabota from other botulinum neurotoxin brands is its purity, stability and antidiffusion properties. This is according to Prof. Joonpio Hong, who presented it to local doctor-clients, such as dermatologists, plastic surgeons, cosmetics surgeons and aesthetic surgeons.
He said that its high-purity product minimizes the side effect that may be caused by the diffusion into other tissues from the site of injection. Developed through Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.’s technology at its facility in South Korea, Nabota can be administered through injections to enhance the frown lines and arm paralysis.
It has also recently proved itself as an efficient treatment for post-stroke stiffness in upper extremity muscles in three-phase clinical trials on muscle rigidities and expanded its application even to cosmetological and therapeutic areas.
Dr. Maria Cristina Puyat, who is part of the clinical study and the first to bring Nabota in the Philippines, said it is safer and more effective, as well as faster in action and has a longer duration of efficacy. Puyat noted that the change can be seen already in around two days, and it lasts for about three to four months. For a more successful result, this botulinum toxin type A is more effective when combined with derma fillers.
“So if you want to remove the wrinkles of a patient, it’s very important to use Perfectha first [as fillers], followed by toxins [that is Nabota],” Cachuela said.
Nabota is now available in five markets globally, starting from Korea and Thailand last year, to Latin America, Middle East and the Philippines this year.
“By next year, we are targeting a share of 30 percent of the local market because by 2020 we want to be the market leader globally,” he said. To date, the major South Korean drug maker has already made 90 contracts globally to distribute and market this product worldwide.
Daewoong Pharamceutical Co. Executive Director for Global Business Division Sengho Jeon expects Nabota to be exported in the US and Europe once approved by the health authorities in 2017. “It is hoped to become available in over 100 countries worldwide in the next two years,” he said.