Hugel Botulinum Toxin Product 'Letibo' Approved in France

First Domestic Botulinum Toxin Company Launches Product in Europe
Approval Granted 3 Days After HMA Recommendation
Q1 Shipment and Local Market Launch

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Hugel's botulinum toxin product 'Botulax (export name Retivo)' has received marketing authorization from French authorities.

Hugel announced on the 3rd that it obtained marketing authorization from the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) for the botulinum toxin Retivo, indicated for glabellar wrinkles.

Previously, Hugel received a recommendation for marketing authorization approval for Retivo from the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) in Europe. Upon receiving this opinion, Hugel initiated country-specific approval procedures to enter 11 European countries, including the five major countries of France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and Italy.

Hugel aims to ship Retivo and launch it in key local markets within the first quarter, using this approval as a milestone. In particular, the launch in the European local markets, including France, marks the first entry of a Korean botulinum toxin product into Europe, and is expected to serve as a foothold for expanding the European market. Hugel plans to complete entry into 36 European countries by next year.

Currently, the European botulinum toxin market is one of the world's three major markets, along with the United States and China, accounting for about 80% of the global botulinum toxin market. The market size is estimated at approximately 500 billion KRW. With the continuous influx of new consumers of various ages and male consumers, and the diversification of treatment channels beyond traditional channels such as hospitals and clinics, the market is expected to maintain an average annual growth rate in the double digits until 2025.

Hugel plans to focus on expanding its presence in the European market based on the proven quality and safety of Retivo, which has held the number one market share in Korea for six consecutive years. In line with the characteristics of the local market, where reasonably priced products are lacking, Hugel will set competitive product prices and enhance trust and recognition among local medical professionals in the beauty and plastic surgery fields through academic marketing recognized both domestically and internationally with excellent educational content.

A Hugel representative said, “As a leading company in the domestic botulinum toxin industry, Hugel has once again crossed the threshold of the European market following China last year, demonstrating the growth potential of Korean pharmaceutical and bio companies in the global market. Bearing the mission as a representative domestic company, we will do our best to spread treatment solutions for healthy beauty to European practitioners and consumers, thereby raising the status of the Korean medical aesthetic industry in the local market.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.