Daewoong Pharmaceutical has officially launched NABOTA, its high-purity botulinum toxin product, in Qatar, completing the company's strategic expansion across the Gulf Cooperation Council's three key aesthetic markets. The launch was announced through a symposium held at The St. Regis Doha on May 30, attended by approximately 200 local healthcare professionals.
Strategic Market Positioning
With this launch, NABOTA is now available in all three Gulf countries—Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—which are recognized as key K-beauty growth markets. Qatar stands out with a per capita GDP of USD 81,400 as of 2024, positioning it as a high-income, premium-oriented market with rapidly increasing demand for aesthetic and cosmetic procedures.
The Gulf countries represent particularly attractive markets due to their oil-producing economies, high-income populations, and cultural similarities that contribute to active cross-border exchanges, enhancing market synergy and scalability. Together with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Qatar holds significant influence across the Middle East and North Africa region.
Product Differentiation and Clinical Excellence
NABOTA is distinguished by its high purity, featuring over 98% of the 900kDa complex, and is designed to offer fast and precise effects. The company reports a low possibility of generating inactive toxins due to the absence of ice nuclei during the drying process. This high level of purity and efficacy positions NABOTA as a strong competitor to existing products, particularly AbbVie's Botox, in the Qatar market.
The launch symposium featured prominent key opinion leaders in aesthetic medicine, including Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim from Qatar, Dr. Abdulkader Ramo from the UAE, and Dr. Boncheol Goo from South Korea, who highlighted NABOTA's clinical excellence and superior product quality.
Innovative Treatment Methodology
Central to Daewoong's market strategy is NABOlift, the company's proprietary microinjection technique that delivers botulinum toxin directly into the dermal and conventional muscular layer to promote lifting, reduce wrinkles, and stimulate collagen regeneration.
Dr. Boncheol Goo, director of Naeum Dermatology and a featured speaker at the event, commented, "NABOTA delivers fast and precise results, making it an ideal product for advanced aesthetic procedures. With the NABOlift technique, botulinum toxin is microinjected into the dermal and conventional muscular layer to reduce wrinkles, refine contours, and enhance facial harmony."
Market Reception and Clinical Interest
The strong reception at the launch event highlighted significant market opportunity in Qatar's aesthetic medicine sector. Dr. Abdulkader Ramo, who presented on "A Deep Dive into NABOTA: Safety and Efficacy," noted, "Given the limited number of botulinum toxin products currently registered in Qatar, the strong interest from the medical community in a new product like NABOTA was particularly notable. The symposium offered a valuable forum to discuss its clinical safety and effectiveness."
Expansion Strategy
Moving forward, Daewoong plans to expand local engagement through strategic collaborations with its partner Vitatech, launching awareness campaigns that feature differentiated treatment methods such as NABOlift. The company aims to leverage NABOTA's proven product quality and innovative procedures to strengthen its regional footprint.
Jun-soo Yoon, Head of Daewoong Pharmaceutical's NABOTA Division, stated, "This launch is significant as it establishes Qatar as a strategic hub for NABOTA within the Middle East. We will continue to expand our footprint across the region by leveraging NABOTA's proven product quality and innovative procedures like NABOlift."
