Alternative to “Gangnam injection”? CKD Healthcare taps on GLP-1 boom with new probiotic launch
Sold under the name GLPitDIET, the product, which the firm claimed was the first-of-its-kind in South Korea, could serve as an alternative to Saxenda.
In South Korea, the prescription only Saxenda is sought after for weight loss.
Widely popular in the Gangnam district, where people flock to plastic surgery clinics for Saxenda, the injectable is famously known as the “Gangnam injection” among locals.
“Saxenda is a trending term in Korea, and many heavy users are aware that its mechanism involves GLP-1.
“It is so popular in plastic surgery and cosmetic clinics in Gangnam that people call it the ‘Gangnam injection’,” Eunyeong Jang, director, CKDHC told NutraIngredients-Asia.
CKDHC said its new launch similarly worked through the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) pathway.
An appetite hormone naturally produced in the body, GLP-1 works by reducing feelings of hunger. This leads to a lower calorie intake and promotes weight reduction.
Designed as an orally taken capsule supplement, Jang said the product could be a safe alternative to consumers who feared needles.
On its product packaging, GLPitDIET is said to “help reduce body fat”.
It is formulated with three probiotic strains with a total CFU of 10bn.
They are Bifidobacterium longum NBM7-1 – a strain from CKDHC's sister company CKD BIO, as well as Lactobacillus curvatus HY7601 and Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032 which are both supplied by hy Co’s.
A mice study published on Gut Microbes in February reported that Bifidobacterium longum NBM7-1 could activate GLP-1 and AMPK pathways – which are both related to weight reduction.
The study assessed whether NBM7-1 could work synergistically with the anti-diabetic medicines Lobeglitazone, Sitagliptin, and Metformin in alleviating hyperglycemia in a diabetic mouse model.
“This study has successfully uncovered the anti-diabetic properties of a probiotic strains of B. longum NBM7–1 (CKD1) derived from healthy individuals, elucidating their synergistic effects when combined with diabetic medications in a T2DM mouse model.
“Although the CKD1 demonstrated no synergistic effects with Lobeglitazone, possibly attributable to CKD1‘s inhibition of PPARγ, which is in contrast to the PPARγ agonist property of Lobeglitazone, the insulin secretion agonists Sitagliptin and Metformin exhibited synergistic effects with the combination with the probiotics CKD1, attributed to the probiotics’ capacity to elevate GLP-1 and activate AMPK,” said the researchers.
Another mice study published in Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins last October reported that the administration of lobeglitazone, NBM7-1, L. rhamnosus NBM17-4, and L. plantarum NMC15-1 separately, has significantly increased plasma GLP-1 levels.
The other two strains used in GLPitDIET, namely HY7601 and KY1032, have shown anti-obesity effects by regulating the gut microbiota. The human clinical trial findings were published in Nutrients in 2022.
“The main component of the product is a probiotic strain which stimulates the body’s natural production of GLP-1. It is safe and is an option for people who fear injections,” Jang said.
Sold at US$59 for a month’s supply, the product is available via TV shopping, CKDHC's online shopping mall, as well as 365MC – a Korean hospital chain specialising in treating obesity and performing liposuction.
Breaking the cycle of weight loss…and weight gain
Poor appetite control is one of the reasons for obesity and difficulty in maintaining a healthy weight.
Jang said that this was based on information from 365MC, which has accumulated over 6.1 million obesity treatment records in the past 21 years.
The hospital observed that some patients who had undergone liposuction had difficulty maintaining their weight due to uncontrolled appetite.
As such, Jang said that the doctors from 365MC would be recommending the new product to help patients stave off weight gain. This is also in line with the partnership’s goal of developing products that support “healthy dieting” and “post-treatment care”.
“The doctors at 365MC have identified that appetite control is crucial in maintaining body shape after undergoing liposuction and needed an additional solution in helping patients achieve this.
“On the other hand, we at CKDHC also saw the need to launch a diet product. This product can break the cycle of weight loss and subsequent weight gain due to lack of appetite control,” said Jang.
Market opportunities
Forty per cent of the Korean adults are obese, while one in five is diabetic. Jang said this meant huge opportunities for weight management products in the country.
This could be seen from initial market response, where the product was sold out since it was first launched in April on the TV shopping channel, she said.
Research data published on the Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome reported that overall prevalence of obesity in South Korea was 38.4 per cent in 2021. The rate of obesity was higher in men at 49.2 per cent and 27.8 per cent among women.
This was a 1.27-fold increase from 30.2 per cent reported in 2012.
The increase was seen across all age groups, particularly among those aged 20, 30, and 80 years.
Garcinia cambogia extract, an ingredient commonly used in weight management products, saw its import volume went up 58.5 per cent to 354 tonnes in South Korea in the first half of 2023.
What other nutra companies are doing over the GLP-1 craze
The craze over GLP-1, Ozempic, and other medications traditionally used among diabetic patients for blood glucose control – but are now in the spotlight for weight loss – has intensified in recent months. Some nutrition and nutraceutical companies are also aligning their strategies with the trend.
Yesterday (June 25), Nestle Health Science launched a website designed to help consumers on GLP-1 medications meet their nutritional needs.
The site is currently aimed at the US consumers, with nutraceutical products from Garden of Life, Nature’s Bounty, and Boost available.
"The number of people on GLP-1 weight loss therapies is growing.
"We have brands and expertise across our portfolio to support needs that can include preserving lean muscle mass, managing digestive upset, supporting an adequate daily consumption of micronutrients, and more,” said Anna Mohl, CEO of Nestlé Health Science.
“Along with women's health and healthy aging, GLP-1 companion products are a key solution that we're focusing on,” she added.
Last month, Nestle also said it was introducing Vital Pursuit, a new line of foods “intended to be a companion for GLP-1 weight loss medication users and consumers focused on weight management”.
The launch will kick off in the US by Q4 this year. The products are said to be high in protein, fibre, and are “portion-aligned to a weight loss medication user’s appetite”, although it could also be used by anyone on a weight loss journey.
In the same month, New Jersey-based nutritional products retailer The Vitamin Shoppe launched a telehealth service providing weight-management solutions.
These include access to GLP-1 agonist medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro, as well as nutritionist-recommended supplements to help optimise weight loss.
In late April, GNC announced a GLP-1 Support Program to help users manage common side effects from the use of GLP-1.
These side effects include gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhoea and nausea, which GNC is hoping to tackle with products such as Supergut.
It is also hoping to address lean muscle loss with protein, creatine, and HMB supplements.
On the other hand, authorities from the US FDA to European Medicine Agency (EMA) have studied the potential risk of suicidal thoughts and self-harm with the use of GLP-1 agonist medications.
The EMA said in April that available evidence on GLP-1 receptor agonists was “not supporting link with suicidal and self-injurious thoughts and actions.”
In the same vein, a US FDA’s announcement in January said preliminary evaluation did not suggest a causal link.
The Ozempic frenzy has been partly driven by reports on how celebrities have lost significant weight in a short period of time.
American talk show host Oprah Winfrey revealed in an interview with People last December that she had used Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro for weight loss, but said that other areas, including a fitness routine was important too.
In recent months, there has been shortage of GLP-1 drugs driven by demand for both weight loss and diabetes.
Novo Nordisk, the company behind Ozempic, Wegovy, and Saxenda, have made a windfall out of these "blockbuster drugs". It has however, been facing stiff competition from Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro in recent months.
