Dong-A Pharmaceutical said Sunday it is strengthening its development capabilities for consumer-oriented products spanning over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, health functional foods, medical devices and cosmetics. The company is pursuing product innovation based on proprietary formulations and differentiated technology.
The move follows Dong-A Socio Group's declaration of a dual R&D strategy tailored to the characteristics of each affiliate. The strategy aims to simultaneously target the global pharmaceutical and bio market through Dong-A ST and the consumer healthcare market through Dong-A Pharmaceutical. Dong-A ST focuses on prescription drugs, biopharmaceuticals and new drug development, while Dong-A Pharmaceutical concentrates on research into OTC drugs, health functional foods, quasi-drugs, food products and cosmetics.
Dong-A Pharmaceutical's research lab is currently conducting broad R&D covering OTC drugs, quasi-drugs, medical devices, healthcare products and health functional foods. The aim is to respond swiftly to market changes and consumer demand. "With consumer-centered product innovation as our goal, we are systematically carrying out diverse research ranging from new product development to improving the functionality and quality of existing products and securing next-generation platform technologies," a Dong-A Pharmaceutical official said.
In April last year, Dong-A Pharmaceutical carried out a research organization overhaul to re-establish R&D as a core pillar at the company-wide level. The research lab, previously under the Development Strategy Division, was placed directly under the CEO, and the Academic Support Team was transferred to the research lab to internalize specialized academic support functions. In June of the same year, the company also established a new Research QA team to verify the reliability and quality of research data. The purpose is to further strengthen the quality assurance system across the entire research process.
Dong-A Pharmaceutical plans to proactively respond to market changes and grow into a company with global-level competitiveness, backed by robust R&D that simultaneously enhances expertise, speed and quality. "Based on consumer needs, we will add scientific evidence and value to find solutions and provide better answers for improving quality of life," a company official said.