LEO Pharma A/S is a multinational Danishpharmaceutical company, founded in 1908, with a presence in about 100 countries. Its headquarters are in Ballerup, near Copenhagen[2] The company is 100% integrated into a private foundation owned by the LEO Foundation.[3] LEO Pharma develops and markets products for dermatology, bone remodelingthrombosis and coagulation.[4] In 1945, it was the first producer of penicillin outside the US and UK.
In 1908, pharmacists August Kongsted and Anton Antons bought the LEO Pharmacy in Copenhagen, Denmark. With the purchase, they established 'Københavns Løveapoteks kemiske Fabrik', today known as LEO Pharma. LEO Pharma celebrated its centennial in 2008.[5] Flags bearing the LEO logo were flying in every country where LEO products are available, more than a hundred flags in total. Today, LEO Pharma has an ever growing pipeline with over 4,800 specialists focusing on dermatology and thrombosis.
1912 – The company launched its own Aspirin headache tablet
1917 – The company exported Denmark's first drug, Digisolvin
1940 – The company launched its own heparin product.
In 2015, the company announced it would acquire Astellas Pharmas dermatology business for $725 million.[7]
In 2018, the company acquired Bayer's dermatology unit for an undisclosed amount.[8]
In April 2022, the company appointed Christophe Bourdon as its new CEO.[9] Prior to this, he served as the CEO of Orphazyme A/S.
In January 2023, the company started extensive layoffs[10] (of about 300 of its current employees, or ~5% of the workforce) as a part of major restructuring and reorganization in anticipation of a possibly planned IPO.[11] Because of slimming down of the company's R&D program, new early-stage drug candidates will have to be sourced externally.[12]
In August 2023, it was announced LEO Pharma had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire key assets of the Basking Ridge-headquartered biopharma company, Timber Pharmaceuticals, for $36 million.[13] This transaction included TMB-001, a topical isotretinoin ointment currently under development for the treatment of moderate to severe subtypes of Congenital Ichthyosis (CI).[14]
In March 2023, LEO Pharma announced in its annual report that is has cut its operating costs by 14% in 2023 while increasing its revenues by 7%.[15]
DKK 7.973 billion (2014)[1]
DDK 31.627 billion (2014)[1]
Denmark
