Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s botulinum toxin product Nabota has entered Kuwait, expanding its Middle East footprint to seven countries.
Nabota is a botulinum toxin type A formulation that received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019 for the improvement of moderate-to-severe glabellar lines under the brand name Jeuveau.
Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on July 30 that it dispatched its initial shipment of Nabota to Kuwait in July. With this expansion, Kuwait becomes the seventh Middle Eastern market to launch the product, following Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, and Bahrain. This represents the largest Middle Eastern market presence among South Korean botulinum toxin manufacturers.
The company stated that Nabota has established a strong foothold for Korean-made neurotoxins in the Middle East’s premium aesthetics market, particularly within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The GCC is an economic union comprising six oil-producing Gulf nations: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman. Characterized by high per-capita income and substantial purchasing power, the region demonstrates robust demand for premium aesthetic treatments.
Kuwait’s botulinum toxin market is estimated at approximately 24 billion won, with a strong consumer preference for high-end aesthetic products. Active online and offline promotional environments for medical products have made the country an attractive focus for global aesthetic companies.
Daewoong Pharmaceutical plans to host an official product launch and scientific symposium in October in collaboration with its local partner. The symposium is expected to draw approximately 200 local medical professionals, including key opinion leaders (KOLs) from both the public and private healthcare sectors. A South Korean dermatologist will serve as a guest speaker to share clinical experiences and treatment techniques utilizing Nabota.
To build long-term market momentum, the company plans to broaden clinical engagement through direct account management, participation in major regional medical conferences, and specialized training programs such as cadaver workshops. It also intends to develop a repository of investigator-initiated clinical cases and deepen ties with global KOLs to highlight Nabota's safety profile and clinical efficacy while executing customized market strategies across the region.
"This entry into Kuwait serves as a key milestone as Nabota—which has surpassed 1 trillion won in cumulative sales—accelerates its expansion into the GCC market and advances as a global premium brand," said Yoon Jun-soo, head of Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s Nabota Business Division.
