Caregen (214370), a peptide-specialized bio-company, has secured a bridgehead for preempting the South American metabolic disease health functional food market. Caregen recently announced the signing of a 5-year exclusive supply contract with SaludDerma, a local distributor in Peru and Paraguay, for three of its core health functional food pipelines.

The contract is valued at approximately $21 million (about 28 billion KRW, based on the exchange rate in September 2025), with the total supply volume projected by Caregen to reach 1 ton. Initial shipments are scheduled to begin in November. SaludDerma is a specialized medical and beauty distributor operating widely across South America, including Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador. With a strong sales network encompassing pharmacies, specialized clinics, and online channels, it is expected to play a crucial role in the successful market entry of Caregen's products.

Leading with an Integrated Metabolic Disease Management Solution 

The products Caregen will supply are three peptide-based health functional foods specifically tailored for metabolic diseases:

Korglutide: A product focused on weight management, known to act similarly to GLP-1 class drugs, which are the latest global trend in obesity treatment. It possesses differentiated competitiveness by demonstrating effects focused on reducing body fat while also proving muscle preservation.
Myoki: A product for muscle health. Its mechanism promotes muscle generation and delays muscle degeneration, making it particularly effective for compensating for muscle loss that can occur during the weight loss process. Its potential as a complement to counter muscle reduction, a side effect of GLP-1 related obesity treatments, is also garnering attention. It has been recognized for its safety and efficacy after receiving NDI (New Dietary Ingredient) approval from the U.S. FDA.
Deglusterol: A product responsible for blood sugar control function. This product also previously achieved the world's first FDA NDI approval.
These three products offer complementary benefits—weight management, muscle health, and blood sugar control—completing a peptide-based healthcare platform strategy for the integrated management of obesity, diabetes, and sarcopenia.

Expecting Preemption of South America, a 'GLP-1 Unexplored Territory' 

Jung Yong-ji, CEO of Caregen, emphasized the strategic importance of this contract. CEO Jung stated, "Peru and Paraguay are countries where GLP-1 injections have not yet fully taken hold," adding, "This contract will be a signal flare for Caregen to secure a leading position in the South American metabolic disease market."

This demonstrates Caregen's proactive market development intent to preempt the market with orally administered peptide health functional foods before the widespread adoption of injectable GLP-1 treatments. Furthermore, the price competitiveness secured through the stabilization of peptide mass production is expected to be a significant strength in meeting the expanding demand in cost-sensitive markets like South America.

Caregen plans to further strengthen its position as a global bio-company and continuously expand its supply capacity for innovative peptide-based products, starting with this entry into South America.