Daewoong's weekly weight-loss patch achieves remarkable human trial absorption levels
In a significant breakthrough, South Korean biopharmaceutical company Daewoong Therapeutics has developed a microneedle patch for semaglutide, a widely used weight loss medication. This innovation offers high bioavailability, weekly, injection-free administration, and potential to disrupt the growing obesity drug market.
The pilot human pharmacokinetic study, conducted by Daewoong Pharmaceutical and Daewoong Therapeutics, demonstrated that Daewoong's semaglutide microneedle patch achieves over 80 percent bioavailability compared to injectables, far surpassing the 30 percent bioavailability typically seen in other patches with the same ingredient[1][4].
The patch's enhanced bioavailability and non-invasive delivery method could significantly improve patient adherence and comfort compared to standard injectable therapies[1]. The microneedle patch technology, seen as a potential game changer, addresses the limitations of painful injections and low-efficiency oral drugs, making it an attractive alternative for obesity treatment.
The study, the first human trial of its kind for Daewoong's semaglutide microneedle patch, involved 70 healthy adults. It compared the blood concentration of semaglutide delivered via the patch to that of a subcutaneous injection, adjusting for dosage differences[1]. The results indicated that the patch can maintain stable blood concentration for a week[1].
Daewoong's CEO, Kang Bok-ki, stated that the study is a major step toward global licensing and commercialization, potentially reshaping how obesity drugs are administered, offering an alternative to injectable drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro, and capturing growing demand for less invasive treatment options[1][2].
Industry experts predict that drug delivery technologies offering higher bioavailability and improved patient convenience will shape the market[3]. With the global weight loss medication market valued at $15.9 billion and projected to reach $60.5 billion by 2030[2], Daewoong's microneedle patch has substantial future potential worldwide.
Park Seong-soo, CEO of Daewoong Pharmaceutical, stated that overcoming the high-dose delivery barrier marks a significant milestone. He also mentioned that they will expand microneedle applications to other biologics and lead the global platform market[1].
While the specific dosage used in the trial was not provided, the absorption of Daewoong's patch is around 160 times higher than oral semaglutide tablets[1]. The company's proprietary drug delivery platform, Clopam, was applied to the microneedle patch in this study.
In conclusion, Daewoong’s microneedle patch has demonstrated strong clinical bioavailability in human trials, enabling weekly semaglutide delivery without injections[1][4]. It represents a promising innovation in obesity treatment, likely to enhance patient compliance and expand the market, especially valuable amid intensifying competition and rising obesity rates globally[2]. If commercialized broadly, the patch could reshape how obesity drugs are administered, offering an alternative to injectable drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro and capturing growing demand for less invasive treatment options[1][2].
The microneedle patch developed by Daewoong Therapeutics, using technology that delivers semaglutide, a weight loss medication, promises to improve health-and-wellness by addressing medical-conditions related to obesity. With its high bioavailability and non-invasive delivery method, this innovation could potentially disrupt the growing obesity drug market and serve as an attractive alternative in the health-and-wellness sector, as well as in weight-management. As the global demand for less invasive treatment options rises, the commercialization of this microneedle patch technology could significantly impact the future of science and technology in the medical field.
