The global obesity treatment market is rapidly expanding, prompting South Korea's pharmaceutical and biotech industries to accelerate investments in production infrastructure beyond just drug development. With the launch of domestically produced obesity medications on the horizon, efforts to secure production facilities and supply chains are intensifying, positioning the domestic bio industry as a new growth engine.
According to a report by IQVIA on August 4, the global obesity treatment market is projected to reach up to $200 billion (approximately 286 trillion won) by 2030. Additionally, a report by Samil PwC forecasts that the market for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) obesity and metabolic disease treatments will grow at an average annual rate of 20% until 2030. In response to this market expansion, global pharmaceutical companies are broadening their focus from drug development to include investments in active pharmaceutical ingredient production and supply chains.
In South Korea, the first domestically produced GLP-1 obesity treatment is nearing launch. Hanmi Pharmaceutical plans to release its obesity treatment, epeglanatide, within the year, targeting sales of 100 billion won in its first year.
The company confirmed significant weight loss effects in a Phase 3 clinical trial involving 448 adults based on clinical data from Koreans, with results showing meaningful outcomes at the 40-week mark. Unlike imported products such as Wegovy and Manjaro, epeglanatide will be produced directly at Hanmi's bio plant in Pyeongtaek. This domestic production system aims to ensure supply stability and price competitiveness.
Earlier this year, Hanmi Pharmaceutical signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Mexican pharmaceutical company Sanfer, marking its entry into overseas markets. Industry experts believe that as a latecomer, price competitiveness and global marketing strategies will be crucial for establishing a foothold in the initial market.
The expansion of the obesity treatment market is also attracting investments in production. Samsung Biologics recently decided to acquire the Swiss global peptide contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Polypeptide Group for approximately 2.7 trillion won, marking the largest merger and acquisition in the history of South Korea's pharmaceutical and biotech industry. This acquisition will allow Samsung Biologics to expand its CDMO business, which previously focused on antibody drugs and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), to include peptide pharmaceuticals, a key raw material for GLP-1 treatments.
SK Pharmtech, a CDMO subsidiary of SK, recently received approval for its new plant in Sejong. The company reportedly signed a supply contract for active pharmaceutical ingredients worth up to 2 trillion won with Eli Lilly over five years. This plan was formalized with an investment of approximately 376 billion won for the construction of the Sejong plant, which will focus on producing peptides needed for obesity and diabetes treatments.
Global Market Insights has analyzed that pharmaceutical development companies are increasingly relying on specialized peptide CDMOs for technical expertise, commercial-scale production capabilities, and rapid market launches. As the development of oral peptides and next-generation GLP-1 treatments expands, investments in production capacity and peptide synthesis and purification infrastructure are also increasing.
Jung Yoon-taek, head of the Pharmaceutical Industry Strategy Research Institute, stated, "Peptide-based obesity treatments are expanding to indications for other diseases, such as brain disorders, leading to increased demand. While securing blockbuster drugs was once a competitive advantage, in the obesity drug market, the production infrastructure capable of meeting global demand has become the key competitive edge."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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