Handok
Handok is a 70-year-old Korean pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and distributes prescription drugs, OTC consumer health brands (Ketotop, Festal), Barozen medical devices including a continuous glucose monitor, digital healthcare services, and health functional foods across pharmacy, hospital, convenience-store, and e-commerce channels in South Korea.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1954
- HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Handok does
Handok (주식회사 한독) is a Seoul-headquartered Korean pharmaceutical company founded in 1954, operating as a publicly structured stock company with 501–1,000 employees across a 13-location national network including Gangnam headquarters, a Magok R&D complex, an Eumseong manufacturing facility, and regional branch offices. The company self-describes as a "Total Healthcare Company" spanning prescription pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter medicines, medical devices, in vitro diagnostics, research-use products, digital healthcare, and health functional foods.
Its core product franchise is anchored by two decades-long #1 consumer brands: Ketotop (ketoprofen-based topical anti-inflammatory patches, #1 in Korean external analgesics for 26+ consecutive years per IQVIA) and Festal (digestive enzymes first launched in 1958 and #1 in the A09A OTC digestive-enzyme segment for over 20 years per IQVIA). The medical-device line centers on the Barozen brand — blood glucose meters and test strips, the new Barozen Fit continuous glucose monitor, automatic blood pressure monitors (Pulse/Pulse Plus), and consumables (lancets, alcohol swabs, insulin pen needles). Adjacent OTC and functional-food brands include FESS hypertonic nasal spray, Clearteen acne treatments, ItchyRescue bug-bite patches, Theracurmin curcumin supplements, Natureset functional foods, and the Ready Q hangover-relief line.
Handok generates revenue through a sales-led, multi-channel model: pharmacies and hospitals for prescription and OTC drugs, convenience stores for smaller-pack OTC SKUs (e.g., 6-tab Festal packs), direct sales into medical institutions for devices and ethical drugs, and the everydayhealth.co.kr e-commerce portal for direct-to-consumer health products. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; revenue streams are characterized as one-time product sales across pharmaceuticals, hardware sales for medical devices, and direct e-commerce. The company also runs clinical and adverse-event data-sharing arrangements with multinational pharma partners (Roche, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, Bayer, Abbott, Astellas, Lilly, Eisai, GSK) for regulatory compliance.
Handok firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Handok
- Legal name
- 주식회사 한독
- Website
- https://handok.co.kr
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1954
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Handok is a 70-year-old Korean pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and distributes prescription drugs, OTC consumer health brands (Ketotop, Festal), Barozen medical devices including a continuous glucose monitor, digital healthcare services, and health functional foods across pharmacy, hospital, convenience-store, and e-commerce channels in South Korea.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Handok industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pharmaceutical Products
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- OTC Pain Relief & Fever (Analgesics, Anti-inflammatory, Topical Pain Relief) (CRADAMAC), Pain Relief & Anti-Inflammatory (Analgesics) (HLAIADAA), Dermatology OTC & Skin Health (Acne Treatments, Eczema/Psoriasis OTC, Antifungals, Wart Removal) (CRADAMAF)
Keywords
Where Handok is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seoul
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices13 records
Markets served
Handok business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical Products: Revenue from prescription drugs (전문의약품), over-the-counter medicines (일반의약품), and health functional foods. Key brands include Ketotop, Festal, and various prescription medications.
- Medical Devices: Revenue from medical devices including Barozen blood glucose monitors, blood pressure monitors, and nasal sprays (FESS).
- Health Functional Foods: Revenue from health supplements sold through everydayhealth.co.kr e-commerce platform.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Handok product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Handok manufactures and distributes a broad healthcare portfolio spanning prescription pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, medical devices (notably the Barozen blood glucose and blood pressure monitors), and health functional foods and cosmetics. Flagship consumer brands include Ketotop topical anti-inflammatory patches (Korea's #1 topical analgesic for 26+ years per IQVIA), Festal digestive enzyme supplements (Korea's first tablet digestive aid since 1958 and #1 in digestive enzymes), FESS nasal sprays, Clearteen acne treatments, Theracurmin curcumin supplements, Natureset health functional foods, and Ready Q hangover relief products.
Product overview
Handok is a Total Healthcare Company offering a broad portfolio spanning prescription pharmaceuticals (전문의약품), general pharmaceuticals (일반의약품), medical devices, in vitro diagnostic devices, research-use products, digital healthcare, and health functional foods. Its flagship general pharma brands include the anti-inflammatory patch KETOTOP (26-year market leader), the digestive supplement FESTAL (Korea's first tablet digestive aid since 1958, No.1 in digestive enzyme market), the nasal spray FESS Natural (Korea's only hypertonic nasal spray for daily use), the acne treatment CLEARTEEN, and the bug-bite relief patch ITCHYRESCUE. The medical device portfolio centers on the BAROZEN brand for blood glucose and blood pressure management, including the BAROZEN Fit continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM). Handok also markets health functional foods and general foods under brands including TERACURMIN (enhanced-bioavailability curcumin), NATURESET, and READY Q (hangover relief), sold through its consumer portal everydayhealth.co.kr. The company operates prescription drug, in vitro diagnostic, research product, and digital health divisions alongside its core OTC and medical device lines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 케토톱 (Ketotop): Top-selling topical anti-inflammatory analgesic patch brand for arthritis treatment, maintaining No. 1 position for 26+ years
- 훼스탈 (Festal)
- 바로잰 (Barozen)
- 네이처셋 (Natureset)
- 테라큐민 (Theracurmin)
- 클리어틴 (Clearteen)
- 페스 (FESS)
- 이치레스큐 (ItchyRescue)
Products and services
- Ketotop (케토톱)
Quantifiable outcome
- Ketotop maintains #1 position in topical anti-inflammatory analgesics for 26+ years (IQVIA 1996 4Q MAT - 2024 4Q MAT)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Handok
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Handok technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Handok partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG / Roche KoreacoreRoche partnership involves digital media marketing activities including pharmaceutical information delivery, event coordination, content distribution, and market research management. Handok handles adverse event data sharing and clinical trial information with Roche for regulatory compliance and product registration purposes.
- Abbott KoreaminorListed as international partner company in Handok's privacy policy for adverse event reporting and clinical trial data exchange purposes.
- Astellas KoreaminorListed as international partner company for adverse event reporting and clinical trial data exchange.
- Bayer KoreaminorListed as international partner company for adverse event reporting and clinical trial data exchange.
- Pfizer KoreaminorListed as international partner company for adverse event reporting and clinical trial data exchange.
- Novartis KoreaminorListed as international partner company for adverse event reporting and clinical trial data exchange.
- Sanofi KoreaminorListed as international partner company for adverse event reporting and clinical trial data exchange.
- GSK KoreaminorListed as international partner company for adverse event reporting and clinical trial data exchange.
- Lilly KoreaminorListed as international partner company for adverse event reporting and clinical trial data exchange.
- Eisai KoreaminorListed as international partner company for adverse event reporting and clinical trial data exchange.
- Veeva SystemscoreVeeva provides CRM cloud services (Veeva CRM) for sales force automation and customer relationship management. Handok uses Veeva for contract management, customer data handling, and cloud-based service operation. Data stored on Salesforce.com and AWS infrastructure.
- Microsoft CorporationcoreMicrosoft provides Microsoft 365 Copilot AI services for business workflow support and productivity enhancement.
- AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreAWS cloud infrastructure used by Veeva for real-time CRM data storage and service operation. Handok data stored through Veeva's cloud services.
- Salesforce.comcoreSalesforce.com provides cloud infrastructure for Veeva CRM services used by Handok for customer relationship management.
- Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers AssociationminorHandok is a member of the association and reports quarterly on compliance with fair competition rules regarding speaker fees and consulting payments to healthcare professionals.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Handok competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Yuhan Corporation: One of the largest Korean pharmaceutical companies, founded 1926, with a similar mix of prescription drugs, OTC consumer health brands, and established distribution across Korean pharmacies and hospitals. Closely comparable as a diversified Korean pharma peer of similar vintage.
- Dong-A ST (Dong-A Pharmaceutical): Major Korean pharmaceutical manufacturer with leading consumer healthcare brands (e.g., Bacchus energy drink) and a prescription drug portfolio. Comparable to Handok across the prescription/OTC/consumer health split and Korean market focus.
- GC Biopharma (formerly Green Cross Corporation): Established Korean biopharmaceutical company with prescription biologics, vaccines, and OTC products. Comparable as a domestic pharma peer with both innovative biologics pipeline and consumer health products distributed through Korean channels.
- Daewoong Pharmaceutical: Korean pharmaceutical company with both prescription drugs (e.g., botulinum toxin Nabota) and a consumer healthcare portfolio. Comparable to Handok across Rx/OTC mix and nationwide pharmacy distribution.
- Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical: Mid-to-large Korean pharmaceutical manufacturer with prescription and OTC products including established consumer brands. Comparable as a domestic pharma peer competing for similar HCP and pharmacy shelf space.
- Boryung Pharmaceutical: Korean pharma with both prescription drugs (notably antihypertensives) and a strong OTC consumer health portfolio (e.g., Kanarb). Comparable to Handok's prescription-plus-OTC structure and Korean distribution model.
- Dong Wha Pharmaceutical: Long-established Korean pharmaceutical company with prescription and OTC/herbal medicine portfolio. Comparable as a domestic peer with similar vintage and Hanpoong-style OTC heritage.
Peers
- Hanmi Pharmaceutical: Innovation-focused Korean pharma with a strong specialty drug pipeline and out-licensing model. Relevant peer given Handok's open-innovation R&D approach (e.g., Resolution subsidiary for ersodutug) and competing for the same HCP audience in Korea.
Broad incumbents
- Roche Korea: Global pharmaceutical major and Handok's Core strategic partner for digital media, clinical trial coordination, and adverse-event reporting. Comparable as a multinational incumbent whose innovative Rx portfolio is commercialized in part through Handok's Korean infrastructure.
- Abbott Korea: Global healthcare company with diagnostics, medical devices (including FreeStyle Libre CGM that competes with Barozen Fit), and consumer health lines. Comparable as a multinational incumbent whose CGM and diabetes device portfolio directly overlaps with Handok's Barozen medical device business.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Handok social profiles
Digital presenceHandok financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Handok leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Handok subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Handok funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Handok M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments6 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Handok
What does Handok do?
Handok manufactures and distributes a broad healthcare portfolio spanning prescription pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, medical devices (notably the Barozen blood glucose and blood pressure monitors), and health functional foods and cosmetics. Flagship consumer brands include Ketotop topical anti-inflammatory patches (Korea's #1 topical analgesic for 26+ years per IQVIA), Festal digestive enzyme supplements (Korea's first tablet digestive aid since 1958 and #1 in digestive enzymes), FESS nasal sprays, Clearteen acne treatments, Theracurmin curcumin supplements, Natureset health functional foods, and Ready Q hangover relief products.
Is Handok a public or private company?
Handok is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Handok founded?
Handok was founded in 1954. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Handok based?
Handok is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Handok make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Pharmaceutical Products are the primary driver. The others are medical Devices and health Functional Foods.
Who are Handok's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Yuhan Corporation, Dong-A ST (Dong-A Pharmaceutical), GC Biopharma (formerly Green Cross Corporation), Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical, Boryung Pharmaceutical and Dong Wha Pharmaceutical. Hanmi Pharmaceutical is listed as a peer. Broad incumbents are Roche Korea and Abbott Korea.
Does Handok have an API?
No public API is recorded for Handok.
What industry is Handok in?
Handok's product category is Pharmaceutical Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAA, Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of CRADAMAC, OTC Pain Relief & Fever (Analgesics, Anti-inflammatory, Topical Pain Relief). Its NAICS code is 3254 and its SIC code is 2834.