DKSH Expands South Korea Drug Portfolio With Novartis Partnership

DKSH Business Unit Healthcare has expanded its prescription drug business in South Korea through a new strategic partnership with Novartis, adding the hypertension medicines Diovan and Exforge to its local portfolio.

Under the agreement, DKSH Korea will take responsibility for sales, medical affairs and marketing activities for both products in South Korea. The partnership is expected to strengthen DKSH’s position in the Korean prescription drug market while expanding its cardiovascular medicine portfolio.

Diovan and Exforge are established treatments for hypertension and have been widely used in Korea across cardiology departments and primary care institutions. Through the new agreement, DKSH plans to use its existing medical and commercial capabilities to support the products and expand their presence in the local market.

The partnership represents another step in DKSH’s strategy to grow its prescription drug business in South Korea. The company already manages a portfolio that includes Atacand, an AstraZeneca hypertension treatment, as well as hematology and nephrology medicines from Kyowa Kirin.

Adding Novartis products to the portfolio gives DKSH another major pharmaceutical partnership and further broadens its presence in the cardiovascular segment. The company said the collaboration is aligned with its renewed growth strategy for its Healthcare business and its wider goal of improving access to healthcare products across Korea.

DKSH provides market expansion and commercialization services to pharmaceutical, over-the-counter, consumer health and medical device companies. Its services can cover areas such as sales, marketing, medical affairs, market access and distribution, allowing international healthcare companies to work with an established local organization rather than building all commercial capabilities independently.

For Novartis, the partnership provides additional local commercial support for two established hypertension products. DKSH Korea will be responsible for activities needed to maintain and develop the brands in the Korean market, while leveraging its knowledge of local healthcare providers and pharmaceutical market dynamics.

Hypertension remains an important area for healthcare systems, requiring long-term management and continued access to effective medicines. Cardiologists, primary care physicians and other healthcare professionals play a central role in diagnosing and managing patients with high blood pressure. Established medicines such as Diovan and Exforge therefore continue to have an important place in the cardiovascular treatment market.

DKSH said the partnership will also lead to an expansion of its local team. The company plans to add professionals with strong product knowledge and an understanding of the Korean pharmaceutical market. The additional resources are expected to support the commercialization of Diovan and Exforge while providing a foundation for further growth of the company’s prescription drug business.

Hans Kim, General Manager of Healthcare at DKSH Korea, said the agreement with Novartis builds on the company’s progress in establishing itself as a trusted partner in the Korean prescription drug market. He said combining experienced professionals with DKSH’s existing capabilities will help the company improve access to prescription medicines and support healthcare professionals and patients.

The Novartis partnership also strengthens DKSH’s broader strategy of building long-term relationships with pharmaceutical companies in Korea. By expanding its portfolio across cardiovascular, hematology and nephrology areas, the company is increasing the range of healthcare solutions it can support through its local commercialization platform.

DKSH said its approach combines local market expertise with an integrated commercialization model designed to connect healthcare innovations with patients. The company aims to simplify the process of bringing medicines to market by providing pharmaceutical partners with sales, medical and marketing capabilities through a single local platform.

The expansion comes as pharmaceutical companies increasingly rely on specialized commercial partners to manage established medicines in individual markets. Local knowledge, relationships with healthcare professionals and dedicated sales and medical teams can be important for maintaining product availability and supporting long-term market performance.

For DKSH Korea, the agreement with Novartis adds further momentum to its prescription drug business and strengthens its position in the country’s pharmaceutical market. The company is expected to focus initially on supporting Diovan and Exforge while continuing to expand its capabilities and partnerships across other therapeutic areas.

The partnership demonstrates DKSH’s continued investment in South Korea and its ambition to become a stronger commercialization partner for global pharmaceutical companies. With the addition of two established cardiovascular treatments and plans to expand its local team, DKSH is positioning its Healthcare business for further growth in the Korean prescription medicine market.