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Korean Botulinum Toxin Compared: 8 Brands, Which to Stock
Korean Botulinum Toxin: 8 Brands Compared — Which to Stock for Your Clinic
Written by FillersFairy Editorial · Reviewed by FillersFairy Clinical Team · Last updated: July 7, 2026
Quick Answer
South Korea produces 8 major botulinum toxin type A brands, spanning three format types: liquid (Innotox — no reconstitution), vacuum-dried (Nabota, Metox — vial appears nearly empty), and freeze-dried (Botulax, Wondertox, Toxta, Liztox, Coretox — visible white powder). Two Korean manufacturers have FDA-approved US products: Daewoong (JEUVEAU, 2019) and Hugel (LETYBO, 2024). Note that FDA approval applies to the specific US-market products and labelling — not automatically to Korean-market SKUs of the same manufacturer. All 8 brands belong to the botulinum toxin type A class and act through inhibition of acetylcholine release. However, potency units, approved indications, reconstitution instructions and clinical evidence are product-specific and should not be assumed interchangeable.
Three Formats — The Most Important Distinction
Before comparing brands, understand the three manufacturing formats. This single variable affects preparation time, dosing workflow and clinical handling more than any other factor.
| Format | What You See in the Vial | Preparation | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid | Clear liquid, ready to draw | None — draw and inject directly | Innotox |
| Vacuum-dried | Thin transparent film at vial bottom — vial appears nearly empty (this is normal) | Add saline, swirl gently, use within 24h | Nabota, Metox |
| Freeze-dried (lyophilized) | Visible white powder cake | Add saline, swirl gently, use within 24h | Botulax, Wondertox, Toxta, Liztox, Coretox |
Clinical note: Vacuum-dried and freeze-dried products both require reconstitution with sterile saline — the preparation workflow is similar. The difference is visual: practitioners opening a vacuum-dried vial for the first time may think it is empty. The full dose is present as a thin film that dissolves into solution when saline is added.
Complete 8-Brand Comparison Matrix
| Brand | Manufacturer | Format | Sizes | Complex | Stabiliser | U.S. Regulatory Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innotox | Medytox | Liquid | 50 / 100U | 900 kDa (Hall) | L-methionine + Polysorbate 20 | Exact product not FDA-approved |
| Botulax | Hugel Pharma | Freeze-dried | 100 / 200 / 300U | 900 kDa (CBFC26) | HSA 0.5 mg | Manufacturer has FDA-approved U.S. product: LETYBO (Feb 2024) |
| Nabota | Daewoong | Vacuum-dried | 100 / 200U | 900 kDa (Wild-type) | HSA | FDA-approved U.S. product: JEUVEAU (2019, marketed by Evolus) |
| Wondertox | Chong Kun Dang | Freeze-dried | 100 / 200U | 900 kDa | HSA + NaCl | Exact product not FDA-approved |
| Toxta | JETEMA | Freeze-dried | 100 / 200U | Proprietary strain | HSA 0.5 mg | Exact product not FDA-approved |
| Metox | Maypharm | Vacuum-dried | 100 / 200U | Proprietary strain | — | Exact product not FDA-approved |
| Liztox | Huons Biopharma | Freeze-dried | 100 / 200U | 900 kDa | HSA 0.5 mg | Exact product not FDA-approved |
| Coretox | Medytox | Freeze-dried | 100U | Hall strain | Free of complexing proteins | Exact product not FDA-approved |
All products: MFDS (KFDA) approved · 2–8°C storage · For licensed practitioners only. Potency units are product-specific per each manufacturer’s labelling and should not be assumed interchangeable across brands.
Each Brand in Detail
Innotox — The Liquid Format Pioneer
Medytox’s Innotox is the only Korean BTX-A that requires zero reconstitution. Supplied as a ready-to-use liquid at a fixed concentration, it eliminates dilution variability entirely. The Hall strain 900 kDa complex is stabilised with L-methionine and Polysorbate 20 instead of human serum albumin — making it HSA-free and animal-component-free. Available in 50U and 100U vials. Innotox product details →
Botulax — The Widest Format Range
Hugel’s Botulax is the only Korean BTX-A available in 100U, 200U and 300U vials — the 300U format is unique in the market and suited for high-volume multi-zone treatments. Hugel also produces LETYBO, a separate FDA-approved product for the US market (BLA 761225, February 2024). CBFC26 strain, standard HSA stabiliser, freeze-dried format with visible white powder. Botulax product details →
Nabota — Backed by FDA-Approved US Product
Daewoong manufactures Nabota using Hi-Pure™ Technology with a wild-type strain. Daewoong also produces JEUVEAU (prabotulinumtoxinA-xvfs), the FDA-approved US product marketed by Evolus since 2019. Vacuum-dried format — the vial appears nearly empty before reconstitution, which is normal. Available in 100U and 200U. Nabota product details →
Wondertox — Major Pharma Heritage
Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical (established 1941) is one of South Korea’s oldest and largest pharmaceutical companies. Wondertox carries that institutional credibility — 900 kDa complex, standard HSA + NaCl excipients, freeze-dried format. Available in 100U and 200U. The 200U format offers per-unit savings for high-volume practices. Wondertox product details →
Toxta — JETEMA’s Reliable Workhorse
JETEMA (KOSDAQ-listed) produces Toxta as a freeze-dried BTX-A with 0.5 mg HSA stabiliser. Available in 100U and 200U. JETEMA’s production platform also produces the sister brand Kaimax under different brand positioning. Positioned as a reliable, straightforward Korean BTX-A at competitive pricing. Toxta product details →
Metox — Value-Tier Vacuum-Dried
Maypharm’s Metox uses a proprietary working strain with vacuum-drying — the vial may appear nearly empty before reconstitution. Available in 100U and 200U. Metox is positioned as a cost-efficient option for clinics prioritising value while maintaining MFDS-approved quality. Metox product details →
Liztox — Highest Documented Purity
Huons Biopharma (subsidiary of Huons Global) manufactures Liztox using the BioPure™ Extraction Process, achieving 99.8% purity — among the highest documented in the Korean BTX-A market. Higher purity means fewer accessory proteins, which may theoretically reduce the risk of neutralising antibody formation over repeated treatments. Freeze-dried, 900 kDa complex, 100U and 200U. Exported internationally as Hutox. Liztox product details →
Coretox — Free of Complexing Proteins
Medytox’s Coretox is described by the manufacturer as containing the neurotoxin without the accessory (complexing) proteins found in standard 900 kDa botulinum toxin complexes. The rationale: complexing proteins may theoretically act as antigens contributing to neutralising antibody formation over repeated treatments. Removing them may reduce this risk, though independent comparative clinical data for Coretox specifically are not yet widely available. Hall strain, freeze-dried, MFDS approved. Coretox product details →
Which Brand Fits Which Clinic
| Your Clinic Profile | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Requires a product from a manufacturer with FDA-approved US offering | Nabota (Daewoong → JEUVEAU) or Botulax (Hugel → LETYBO) | Only two Korean manufacturers with FDA-approved US products. Verify applicable regulatory requirements for your jurisdiction. |
| High-volume clinic, preparation speed is priority | Innotox | No reconstitution. Eliminates 5–10 min preparation per vial. |
| Large-area treatments (body contouring, calf slimming) | Botulax 300U | Only brand with 300U vial — fewer vials per session. |
| Patients with long treatment history (concern about antibody formation) | Coretox or Liztox | Coretox: free of complexing proteins. Liztox: 99.8% purity. Both may theoretically reduce immunogenicity risk. |
| HSA-free / animal-component-free preference | Innotox | L-methionine + Polysorbate 20 stabiliser system. No HSA. |
| Maximum cost efficiency at wholesale | Metox or Wondertox | Value-tier positioning with MFDS quality. |
| Stock two brands — one for convenience, one for flexibility | Innotox + Botulax, or Nabota + Wondertox | Pair liquid convenience with powder flexibility, or pair a manufacturer with FDA history with a value-tier brand. |
Clinic Buyer Summary
There is no single “best” Korean botulinum toxin. All 8 brands belong to the same drug class and act through the same biological mechanism (acetylcholine release inhibition at the neuromuscular junction). However, potency units, approved indications, reconstitution requirements and clinical evidence are product-specific — practitioners should follow each product’s labelling and not assume interchangeability. The choice depends on regulatory requirements, format preference, volume needs, immunogenicity considerations and cost positioning. Most international clinics stock 2–3 brands to cover different clinical scenarios. Browse all Korean BTX-A products →
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Korean manufacturers have an FDA-approved US botulinum toxin product?
Two: Daewoong manufactures JEUVEAU (prabotulinumtoxinA-xvfs, FDA approved 2019, marketed by Evolus). Hugel manufactures LETYBO (letibotulinumtoxinA-wlbg, FDA approved February 2024). FDA approval applies to these specific US-market products and labelling — it does not automatically extend to Korean-market SKUs from the same manufacturers.
Can units be converted between Korean botulinum toxin brands?
Potency units are defined by each manufacturer using product-specific assays and are not formally interchangeable. FDA labelling for approved products explicitly states that units are not comparable or convertible between different botulinum toxin products. In practice, many practitioners apply similar dosing ranges across brands, but this is clinical convention rather than manufacturer-supported equivalence. Follow each product’s labelling for dosing guidance.
What is the difference between vacuum-dried and freeze-dried?
Both require reconstitution with saline before use. The practical difference is appearance: vacuum-dried vials (Nabota, Metox) have a thin, nearly invisible film — the vial looks empty but contains the full dose. Freeze-dried vials (Botulax, Wondertox, Toxta, Liztox, Coretox) have a visible white powder cake.
Why is Innotox liquid while others require reconstitution?
Medytox developed a stabiliser system (L-methionine + Polysorbate 20) that maintains toxin activity in liquid solution without HSA. This eliminates reconstitution but requires strict 2–8°C cold chain throughout the product lifecycle. Powder and vacuum-dried formats may tolerate brief temperature excursions better during shipping.
How many brands should a clinic stock?
Most international clinics stock 2–3 brands. A common configuration: one liquid product for convenience plus one reconstituted product for flexibility, selected based on regulatory requirements, patient mix and practitioner preference. Stocking all 8 is unnecessary — choose based on your clinical needs and regulatory environment.
Related Guides
Disclosure: FillersFairy is a wholesale supplier of all Korean botulinum toxin brands listed in this article. This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal or regulatory advice. Regulatory status information is current as of the publication date and may change. Healthcare professionals should verify regulatory compliance in their jurisdiction before clinical use. Potency units are product-specific and should not be assumed interchangeable.
References
- Medytox Inc. Innotox and Coretox product specifications. MFDS approved.
- Hugel Pharma. Botulax product specifications. LETYBO FDA BLA 761225 (Feb 2024).
- Daewoong Pharmaceutical. Nabota product specifications. JEUVEAU FDA approved 2019.
- Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical. Wondertox product specifications. MFDS approved.
- JETEMA Co., Ltd. Toxta product specifications. MFDS approved.
- Maypharm Co., Ltd. Metox product specifications. MFDS approved.
- Huons Biopharma. Liztox product specifications. 99.8% purity, BioPure™ Process. MFDS approved.
- OpenMedScience. “Korean Botulinum Toxin Type A Products in Aesthetic Medicine: Regulatory Status, Formulations, and Clinical Evidence.” 2026.
- U.S. FDA. LETYBO prescribing information. JEUVEAU prescribing information. Potency units are specific to each product.
