Daewoong Pharmaceutical's Violette 'DCA' Reduces Upper Arm Subcutaneous Fat by 7.5mm... Published in US SCIE Journal

Korean Research Team Demonstrates Fat-Dissolving Effect on Upper Arm Fat
Potential for Expanding Fat-Reduction Procedures Beyond the Chin Area

For the first time, a study has demonstrated that deoxycholic acid, the main ingredient in Daewoong Pharmaceutical's fat-dissolving injection 'Violette', is effective in breaking down subcutaneous fat in the upper arms.

On May 19, Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced that a research team including Professor Park Guiyoung of Chung-Ang University Hospital and Director Yoon Chunsik of Yemione Dermatology Clinic had published results proving the fat-reducing effect of deoxycholic acid (DCA) on upper arm fat. The findings were published in the SCIE-indexed American journal, the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

Violette is the first domestically developed fat-dissolving injection in Korea, launched by Daewoong Pharmaceutical in 2021. Its main ingredient, deoxycholic acid, works by destroying fat cells and reducing their number. Unlike other fat-dissolving agents that only shrink the size of fat cells, Violette offers a semi-permanent effect and, through its mechanism of inducing collagen synthesis, helps maintain and improve skin elasticity.

This study is significant as it is the first clinical trial in Korea to confirm the fat-reducing effect of deoxycholic acid?previously used mainly for submental (under the chin) procedures?when applied to the upper arm (posterior upper arm). The results demonstrate the potential of Violette for upper arm fat reduction procedures.

According to the study, after administering Violette at concentrations of 5mg/mL and 2.5mg/mL to the upper arm area three times over eight weeks and observing the patients for 20 weeks, the thickness of subcutaneous fat decreased by an average of 7.49mm and 4.68mm, respectively. The circumference of the upper arm also decreased by an average of 1.55mm and 1.1mm at 20 weeks after administration.

Another notable aspect of this study is the method of diluting deoxycholic acid for the procedure. The research team used sterile saline to dilute Violette to concentrations of 5mg/mL (1:1 dilution) and 2.5mg/mL (1:3 dilution) before administering it to the upper arm area. As a result, the visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain, as reported by patients, averaged 5.7 and 2.3, respectively, indicating that pain decreased as the concentration was lowered.

Professor Park Guiyoung of Chung-Ang University Hospital, who led the study, stated, "This is the first study to apply Violette to the upper arm rather than the submental area, and it is clinically significant because it analyzed both the fat-reducing effects and pain responses at various concentrations. By presenting a dilution method that reduces pain while maintaining efficacy, the study opens up the possibility for broader clinical use of Violette in larger treatment areas."