Chong Kun Dang will be responsible for the domestic sales of Novo Nordisk's obesity treatment, Wegovy (ingredient: semaglutide).

Chong Kun Dang announced on the 18th that it has signed a co-promotion agreement for Wegovy with Novo Nordisk Korea at its headquarters in Chungjeong-ro, Seoul.

Under the agreement, Chong Kun Dang will conduct sales and marketing of Wegovy to domestic hospitals and clinics starting from the 1st of next month. Wegovy is an injectable obesity treatment developed by Novo Nordisk in the GLP-1 class. It gained fame as celebrities like Elon Musk and Kim Kardashian used Wegovy and experienced weight loss effects.

It works by suppressing appetite and increasing satiety, aiding in weight loss and reducing cardiovascular risk. It is the only biological agent among GLP-1 receptor agonists and is known to have 94% homology with the GLP-1 hormone produced in the human body. In global clinical trials, it showed an average weight loss effect of 17%, with over 20% weight loss confirmed in 1 out of 3 subjects. Consistent weight loss effects and safety were also demonstrated in clinical trials involving Asians, including Koreans. It is the only treatment among similar therapies to secure an indication for reducing cardiovascular risk and has proven efficacy in independently reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events early. In clinical trials verifying cardiovascular safety for obese patients, a significant reduction in the risk of major cardiovascular diseases was observed within three months of administration. Within six months of administration, the risk of death related to cardiovascular diseases was reduced by 50%.

It was launched domestically in October last year and recorded the highest sales of prescription drugs in the second quarter of this year (based on IQVIA data).

Kim Young-joo, CEO of Chong Kun Dang, stated, "Wegovy is gaining attention as a groundbreaking alternative in the field of obesity treatment," adding, "We will actively expand the domestic obesity treatment market based on Chong Kun Dang's expertise in leading the markets for obesity-related diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, as well as successful co-promotion experiences with multinational and domestic pharmaceutical companies."

Kasper Roseeuw Poulsen, CEO of Novo Nordisk Korea, said, "Wegovy is an innovative treatment developed by Novo Nordisk after more than 25 years of research, recognizing the complex epidemiological issues of obesity," and added, "Through collaboration with Chong Kun Dang, which has a strong presence in the domestic chronic disease field, we will raise awareness of Wegovy's clinical benefits and actively support domestic medical professionals to contribute to improving the treatment environment for patients struggling with obesity."

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