[Edaily Reporter KIM SAE-MI ] “There is no miracle that allows you to lose weight healthily and maintain it forever. I believe the most important keyword in obesity treatment is now ‘sustainability’ rather than ‘weight loss.’”
Kim Na-young, Executive Vice President of HanmiPharm’s Innovation and Growth Division, made these remarks while delivering a lecture titled “The Present and Future of Convergent Pharmaceuticals” at the E-Daily “K-Bio Deal Summit 2026,” held on the afternoon of the 9th at KG Harmony Hall in KG Tower, Jung-gu, Seoul.
Vice President Kim emphasized, “Medications are the starting point for obesity treatment, but the success of treatment ultimately depends on the patient’s daily management and consistency,” adding, “Our strategy is not just about receiving a weekly injection; it’s about helping patients discover a healthier version of themselves through daily self-management and exercise.”
In other words, preventing the yo-yo effect after obesity treatment and sustaining weight loss are at the core of HanmiPharm’s obesity treatment strategy HanmiPharm(128940). HanmiPharm’s solution to this is “digital convergent pharmaceuticals,” which combine obesity treatments with digital health and wellness support devices. Vice President Kim argued, “For chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes, where treatment efficacy depends on medication adherence and lifestyle management, digital technology that intervenes in patients’ daily lives must accompany drug therapy.”
The limitations of existing digital therapeutics (DTx) were also discussed. Although 17 DTx products had been approved in South Korea as of July this year, actual prescribing remains limited. Since these treatments focus on behavioral and cognitive interventions, it is difficult to directly address the biological causes of the disease; other challenges cited include low adherence due to patient self-administration and inadequate reimbursement and fee-for-service systems.
HanmiPharm addresses these issues through the integration of Drugs, Digital, and Data. This approach involves using medications to target biological mechanisms, leveraging digital technology to manage medication adherence, diet, exercise, and adverse reactions, and then utilizing the accumulated data for personalized treatment.
Vice President Kim also viewed the implementation of the Digital Medical Products Act in South Korea—the first of its kind globally—as an opportunity. “The national foundation to lead the field of digitally integrated pharmaceuticals has been established,” he said, adding, “HanmiPharm is determined to secure the world’s first approval for a digitally integrated pharmaceutical product.”
He pledged, “By combining obesity treatments with digital medical and health support devices, we are aiming to secure the world’s first approval for a digital-converged pharmaceutical by 2027,” and added, “We will establish ourselves as a global first mover and lead a paradigm shift in obesity treatment.”
