‘LEO Pharma serves as a KOR–DEN healthcare bridge’

‘Strengthening leadership in dermatology - Korea a strategic hub

Aging and fiscal burden a shared challenge – Govn’t-Industry cooperation essential

Korea and Denmark share similarities. Both nations operate universal healthcare systems and face the dual challenges of introducing innovative treatments while maintaining fiscal sustainability. The policy environment in both countries shares the dilemma of preserving public value while promoting research and development.

Building on these shared priorities, the two nations have expanded multilayered partnerships involving governments, companies, and research institutions across various healthcare fields, including infectious disease response, aging populations, digital health, and chronic disease management.

Established in 2011, LEO Pharma Korea has served as a bridge within the Korea–Denmark healthcare collaboration framework, particularly in dermatology. Through close engagement with Korean clinicians and evidence-based medical research, the company has executed a patient-focused innovation strategy while functioning as a strategic hub connecting the results to the Danish market.

Against this backdrop, Frederik Kier, Executive Vice President of International Operations at LEO Pharma, who was appointed in June last year, recently visited Korea. His visit focused on reviewing the Korean subsidiary's strategy and discussing the direction of Korea–Denmark pharmaceutical and biotech collaboration with Mikael Hemniti Winther, Ambassador of Denmark to the Republic of Korea.

Dailypharm recently met with Ambassador Winther and Executive Vice President Kier at the Danish Ambassador's residence in Seongbuk-dong, Seoul, to discuss bilateral healthcare cooperation, Korea’s strategic role, and the practical implementation plans for patient-focused innovation.

“Designing public value and innovation together”… Emphasizing Korea-Denmark healthcare cooperation

Mikael Hemniti Winther, Ambassador of Denmark to the Republic of Korea.

Ambassador Winther identified how Korea and Denmark's commonality lies not just in systems but in values. He emphasized that both nations have democratic systems and operate their healthcare systems on the basis of social agreement on welfare and public responsibility.

Ambassador Winther said, “The Danish government views patients not as customers but as individuals for whom it bears responsibility. Policies are designed around that responsibility.”

Denmark established a universal healthcare system early and has operated a healthcare infrastructure centered on public hospitals. Within this structure, pharmaceutical companies have served as a vital link, acting as a critical link that translates public research outcomes into real-world therapies beyond mere supply.

He explained, “Denmark has pursued a welfare society relatively early on. Health insurance and the healthcare system serve as its core pillars. The system functions only when high-quality treatments are available for the patients. To achieve this, the government and pharmaceutical companies need to collaborate toward common goals.”

He added, “The welfare system entails enormous costs. The key challenge is how to design incentives that encourage innovation while maintaining competition and transparency.”

He also emphasized the culture of cooperation between the government and pharmaceutical companies. In Denmark, public research institutes, universities, hospitals, and companies are organically connected, and industry opinions are partially reflected in the system design process.

He explained that cooperation between Korea and Denmark can also be understood within this context. The two countries continue policy exchanges across various fields, including infectious disease response, aging populations, and digital health. The embassy regularly communicates with Danish companies operating in Korea.

Ambassador Winther stated, “Currently, Danish companies are actively collaborating not only in the pharmaceutical sector but across diverse industries, sharing the fundamental values Denmark upholds. I believe there remains substantial potential for expanded collaboration going forward.”

LEO Pharma's execution strategy… Securing leadership in ‘medical dermatology’

Frederik Kier, Executive Vice President of International Operations at LEO Pharma

EVP Kier described Korea’s importance from an industry perspective. LEO Pharma, he noted, has dedicated more than 115 years to dermatology, defining its mission as leadership in Medical Dermatology.

EVP Kier stated, “LEO Pharma aims to become a global leader in dermatology and is offering a broad range of treatment options for patients with skin conditions in Korea. Our existing portfolio includes diverse product lines, from acne therapies to treatment for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.”

Marking its 15th anniversary in Korea, the company has expanded its presence in recent years. One prime example is its atopic dermatitis treatment ‘Adtralza (tralokinumab)’, which received domestic approval in 2023 and was added to the national health insurance reimbursement list in 2024.

The EVP explained that Adtralza has secured differentiated data in improving lesions on exposed areas like the head and neck and hands, establishing itself as a meaningful option in clinical practice.

EVP Kier said, “The Korean market already has various atopic dermatitis treatment options. Nevertheless, Adtralza deserves attention for its superior efficacy on exposed areas like the head, neck, and hands. These areas are known to be challenging to treat, and it is precisely in these areas that we believe Adtralza provides tangible and meaningful benefits to Korean patients.”

LEO Pharma has also secured Korean approval for ‘Anzupgo Cream (delgocitinib),’ a topical pan-JAK inhibitor targeting chronic hand eczema, and added it to its dermatology portfolio. Anzupgo is a topical formulation that inhibits JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and TYK2 and was developed for patients who do not respond sufficiently to existing therapies.

EVP Kier explained, “Chronic hand eczema is an inflammatory disease that persists for more than 3 months or recurs frequently, with a significant patient population not responding adequately to existing topical treatments. It represents a clear area of unmet medical need. Anzupgo Cream demonstrated strong clinical efficacy and was shown to improve multiple eczema symptoms. We are currently in the final stages of preparation for its official launch in Korea.”

LEO Pharma is also preparing reimbursement procedures for Spevigo (spesolimab), a treatment for acute exacerbations of generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP). The company recently acquired commercialization rights through a licensing agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim.

EVP Kier described the developments as part of building an end-to-end portfolio spanning mild localized diseases to severe and rare dermatologic conditions.

EVP Keir specifically highlighted the Korean market as a strategic operational base in Asia. In his view, Korea is not merely a sales market, but an operational hub for data generation through clinical trials involving Koreans and a joint promotional base for raising awareness on the necessity of long-term treatment among healthcare professionals.

EVP Keir stated, “Chronic skin diseases are not conditions resolved with short-term prescriptions. Both clinicians and patients must share a common understanding of the need for long-term management.”

He added, “LEO Pharma views providing therapies for diseases with significant unmet medical needs as its most important contribution. To further establish leadership in dermatology, we will continue developing new candidates and treatment options within these disease areas.”

“Healthcare as both industry and diplomacy”… the need for government–private collaboration

The significance of the discussion extended beyond introducing LEO Pharma’s corporate strategy. Its weight lay in the shared recognition, based on the common ground that both Korea and Denmark are welfare states operating public healthcare systems, of how to design and implement healthcare as a pillar of national strategy.

Ambassador Winther said, “Denmark holds Korea's healthcare system in high regard. To address common challenges like aging populations and fiscal burdens, cooperation between the government and private sectors will become increasingly vital going forward. Healthcare is not merely an industry but a policy domain that the state must shoulder responsibility for. We need a structure where intergovernmental policy dialogue and corporate activities are discussed together.”

EVP Kier echoed this perspective. “Korea possesses an advanced healthcare system, and its medical professionals demonstrate high understanding and implementation capabilities regarding innovative therapies. LEO Pharma seeks to act not merely as a supplier but as a long-term partner aligned with Korean healthcare professionals.”

Both Ambassador Winther and EVP Kier expressed confidence in the expansion of Korea–Denmark cooperation.

Another key theme emerging from this discussion was LEO Pharma's expansion of its domestic communication scope.

EVP Kier stated, “While engagement previously centered on patient groups in the past, it has recently expanded to include academic exchanges and clinical discussions with Korean medical professionals, broadening the scope of collaboration. This expansion of domestic communication contributes to enhancing understanding within the healthcare field and strengthening the practical implementation capabilities for innovative therapies.”

EVP Kier also added that certain skin conditions significantly impact patients' social lives and work performance. He remarked, “These conditions require greater attention from the medical community and society at large. LEO Pharma will continue being committed to introducing innovative new drugs to Korea.”

Ambassador Winther said, “Korea and Denmark face significant demographic and economic challenges. Through close cooperation among health authorities, governments, and the private sector, both nations can share experience and deliver greater benefits to patients,” he stated.

He concluded, ”The values shared by companies rooted in Denmark are reflected not only in LEO Pharma's treatments but also in the overall operations of Danish companies in Korea. We hope LEO Pharma's activities will contribute positively to Korean society.”