Chongkundang and Novo Nordisk Korea to Jointly Market "Wegovy"

Joint Sales and Marketing for Domestic Hospitals and Clinics
to Begin on October 1

Chongkundang announced on the 18th that it has signed a joint sales agreement with Novo Nordisk Korea for the obesity treatment "Wegovy®" in South Korea.

The two companies signed the agreement at the Chongkundang headquarters in Chungjeongno, Jung-gu, Seoul, and will jointly conduct sales and marketing of Wegovy to domestic hospitals and clinics starting from October 1.

On the 18th, at Chongkundang headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, Kim Youngjoo, CEO of Chongkundang (left), and Casper Roseu Poulsen, CEO of Novo Nordisk Korea, signed a joint sales contract for Wegovy. Chongkundang

Wegovy is an injectable obesity treatment developed by Novo Nordisk containing semaglutide, which suppresses appetite and increases satiety to help with weight loss and reduce cardiovascular risk. It was launched in South Korea in October last year and recorded the highest domestic prescription drug sales for the second quarter of 2025, according to IQVIA.

As a single GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist and the only biological agent among GLP-1 drugs, it has 94% homology with the GLP-1 hormone produced in the human body. In global approval trials STEP 1 and STEP 5, it showed an average weight loss of 17% (based on the trial product estimand), and approximately one in three participants experienced weight loss of about 20% or more. Consistent weight loss effects and safety were also demonstrated in STEP 6, 7, and 11 trials conducted on Asians, including Koreans.

Notably, Wegovy is the first and only obesity treatment to have an indication for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). In addition to sustained weight loss, it has been proven to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events early on, independently of weight loss. In a sub-analysis of the large-scale SELECT phase 3 cardiovascular outcomes trial (CVOT) for obese patients, the risk of major cardiovascular events was significantly reduced by 37% within three months of administration. Within six months of administration, the risk of death from cardiovascular disease was reduced by 50%, while among heart failure patients, the risk of hospitalization, emergency treatment, and death from cardiovascular disease was reduced by 59%.

Kim Youngjoo, CEO of Chongkundang, stated, "We are excited to become a partner for Wegovy, which is being recognized as a groundbreaking alternative in the field of obesity treatment. Based on Chongkundang's expertise accumulated by leading the markets for comorbidities such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, as well as our successful experience in joint sales with both multinational and domestic companies, we will actively expand the domestic obesity treatment market."

Casper Roseu Poulsen, CEO of Novo Nordisk Korea, said, "Wegovy is an innovative therapy developed as a result of Novo Nordisk's recognition of the complex epidemiological issues of obesity and more than 25 years of dedicated research. Through our collaboration with Chongkundang, which has a strong presence in the domestic chronic disease market, we aim to raise awareness of the clinical benefits of Wegovy, actively support local healthcare professionals, and further contribute to improving the treatment environment for patients struggling with obesity."

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