Daehwa Pharmaceutical

What Daehwa Pharmaceutical does

Daehwa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (대화제약) is a KOSDAQ-listed (ticker 1730) South Korean pharmaceutical company founded in 1984 and headquartered in Seoul, with manufacturing operations in Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon-do. The company operates across four product verticals: prescription pharmaceuticals (전문의약품) spanning oncology, cardiovascular, diabetes, anti-infective, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system therapeutic areas; over-the-counter medications; aesthetic and medical device products including the Amalian hyaluronic acid filler line (German-manufactured) and MiraColl; and health functional foods including the Wooahan Mega Biotics probiotic/postbiotics series sold through the proprietary Daehwa e-commerce mall.

The company's technological core is a Transdermal Drug Delivery System (TDDS) platform producing 24-hour sustained-release loxoprofen plasters and cataplasma formulations under the LOXONA brand, supplemented by registered patents covering ultra-high molecular weight hyaluronic acid production, drug release-controlled oral dissolving films, lidocaine-containing transdermal formulations, and local anesthetic-containing fillers. Daehwa's flagship innovation is Liporaxel (DHP107/RMX3001), the world's first oral taxane anticancer drug, which eliminates the need for IV infusion in taxane chemotherapy and holds approvals or designations in Korea (2016), China (2024), the European Union (EMA Orphan Drug Designation, 2024), and the United States (FDA Phase 2 IND).

Daehwa generates revenue through a sales-led go-to-market motion targeting Korean hospitals and clinics via five regional sales offices (Seoul, Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, Busan) staffed by medical representatives, complemented by direct-to-consumer e-commerce for health functional foods. International revenue is derived from technology licensing and export contracts, including strategic partnerships with China's Haihe Bio Pharma and JHK Biopharma (the latter a 25%-owned joint venture established in 2019), and distribution agreements covering Serbia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Hungary. R&D investment exceeds 10% of annual revenue, supported by the Pangyo Research Center in Korea Bio Park, Seongnam-si. Multiple international certifications (ISO 37001, 37301, 45001, 14001, and ESG Management System) indicate mature compliance and sustainability infrastructure.

Name

Daehwa Pharmaceutical

Legal name

대화제약 주식회사 (Daehwa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://dhpharm.co.kr

Company type

Public

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Daehwa Pharmaceutical is a KOSDAQ-listed South Korean pharmaceutical company founded in 1984 that develops, manufactures, and commercializes prescription drugs, transdermal patches, aesthetic fillers, and health functional foods. It serves hospitals and clinics domestically and licenses products internationally, with Liporaxel as its flagship oral anticancer drug.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Prescription Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity) (HLAIAAAE)

Keywords

• Prescription pharmaceuticals
• Oral anticancer drugs
• Transdermal drug delivery
• Health functional foods
• Aesthetic medical devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Sales of prescription pharmaceuticals (전문의약품), over-the-counter drugs (일반의약품), and health functional foods to hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies through regional sales offices in Seoul, Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, and Busan
2. Technology Licensing and Exports: International licensing of proprietary drug formulations including Liporaxel® to China partners (Haihe Bio Pharma, JHK Biopharma) and export of pharmaceutical products to global markets including Europe (Serbia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary)
3. TDDS Products: Sales of transdermal drug delivery products including LOXONA plasters and cataplasma patches for arthritis and pain management
4. Health Functional Foods: Sales of health functional foods including probiotics and post-biotics products under the Wooahan brand

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Daehwa Pharmaceutical manufactures and sells prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, health functional foods, and aesthetic/medical device products. Its flagship offering is Liporaxel (DHP107), the world's first oral taxane anticancer drug, supported by proprietary Transdermal Drug Delivery System (TDDS) technology used in the LOXONA patch line. The company also distributes Amalian hyaluronic acid fillers and the Wooahan probiotic health functional food line.

Product overview

Daehwa Pharmaceutical operates as a diversified pharmaceutical company with a portfolio spanning prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, health functional foods, and aesthetic/medical device products. The company is organized into four main product categories: prescription pharmaceuticals (전문의약품) covering cardiovascular, diabetes, anticancer, anti-infective, and other therapeutic areas; general consumer medications (일반의약품); aesthetic products including Amalian hyaluronic acid fillers and the Loxona topical patch line; and health functional foods featuring the Wooahan Mega Biotics probiotic series. Key products include the world's first oral anticancer drug Liporaxel, the Loxona arthritis patch (Korea's first topical loxoprofen), and Amalian German hyaluronic acid fillers. The company also operates a proprietary e-commerce platform for pharmaceutical distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 록소나 (LOXONA): Korea's first adhesive loxoprofen patch product for degenerative arthritis treatment. Features 24-hour sustained effect plaster dosage form.
• 아말리안 (Amalian)
• 우아한 (Wooahan)
• loxona

Products and services

• LOXONA (록소나) - Loxoprofen Patch Korea's first adhesive loxoprofen patch and cataplasma product for degenerative arthritis treatment. Available as a 24-hour sustained-release plaster for localized application and a cataplasma formulation for larger affected areas. Targeted at patients and physicians seeking topical anti-inflammatory therapy.
• Liporaxel (리포라겔액 / DHP107) World's first oral taxane anticancer drug formulation (DHP107/RMX3001) developed by Daehwa Pharmaceutical. Indicated for breast cancer and gastric cancer, replacing IV taxane infusion with oral administration. Approved in Korea (2016), China (2024), and holds EMA orphan drug designation (2024); US FDA Phase 2 clinical trial completed.
• Amalian (아말리안) Hyaluronic Acid Filler German-manufactured hyaluronic acid filler product line for aesthetic and dermatology applications. Includes Amalian SF24 advanced formulation approved in China in 2024. Targeted at dermatology and aesthetic medicine practitioners and end consumers.
• Wooahan Mega Biotics (우아한 메가바이오틱스) Probiotic Supplements Health functional food brand featuring human-derived Bifidus probiotic supplements, including Mega Biotics and Mega Biotics Secret formulations targeting gut health and digestive wellness. Sold to individual Korean consumers through the company's e-commerce platform.
• Daehwa Losartan Plus F (대화로자탄플러스에프정) Prescription cardiovascular combination medication combining an angiotensin receptor blocker for hypertension management. Dispensed via pharmacies to patients under physician prescription.
• Baropozi (바로포지정) Prescription cardiovascular medication combining olmesartan medoxomil with another antihypertensive agent, available in multiple dosage strengths for hypertension treatment.
• Sitaviang (시타비앙정) / Sitaviang Duo XR Prescription sitagliptin-based DPP-4 inhibitor for type 2 diabetes management, available in immediate-release and extended-release formulations.
• Securin (시큐린정) Prescription cardiovascular medication.
• Tapazine (타파진정 10mg) Prescription endocrine medication.
• Topstatin (톱스타틴정 5mg) Prescription statin medication for cholesterol management.
• Telmitension (텔미텐션정) Prescription telmisartan-based angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) for hypertension treatment.
• Supia (수피아정) Prescription cardiovascular combination medication.
• Vibas (비바스정) Prescription cardiovascular combination medication.
• Olwiner / Olwiner Plus (올위너정/올위너플러스정) Prescription olmesartan-based combination therapy for hypertension.
• Gastric SR (가스트릭서방정) Prescription gastrointestinal medication in sustained-release formulation.
• Daehwa Itraconazole (대화이트라코나졸정) Prescription antifungal medication.
• Daehwa Acyclovir (대화아시클로버정) Prescription antiviral medication for herpes infections.
• Priocan 5% Cream (프리오칸5%크림) Prescription topical antifungal cream.
• Mega Set (메가셋정/메가셋세미정) Prescription analgesic medication.
• Marnaf (마르나에프정) Prescription obesity medication.
• Livamen Patch (Livamen 첩부제) Transdermal drug delivery patch product that received Chinese product license approval in 2025, expanding Daehwa's TDDS portfolio internationally.
• MiraColl (미라콜) Medical device product in the aesthetic/dermatology category.

Quantifiable outcome

• Liporaxel® received China's national insurance reimbursement listing in 2025, enabling broader patient access in the Chinese market
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Doosan (두산) / Doosan BearsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 March 2021Daehwa Pharmaceutical has conducted joint promotional activities with Doosan Bears baseball team for 9 consecutive years, leveraging sports marketing for brand visibility and consumer engagement. The partnership involves promotional activities and brand visibility campaigns through the baseball team.
• Korea Institute of Chemical Research (한국화학연구원)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2020Joint research partnership for next-generation anticancer drug development. Daehwa Pharmaceutical and KICR initiated collaborative research for advanced anticancer therapeutics development.
• Haihe Bio Pharma (중국 하이허)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Strategic partnership for Liporaxel® (DHP107) development and commercialization in China. Haihe Bio Pharma invested in and partnered with Daehwa for the Chinese market development of the oral anticancer drug. The partnership led to China NDA filing and approval of Liporaxel® in the Chinese market.
• JHK Biopharma (중국JHK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Joint venture partnership established in China for Liporaxel® development and TDDS (Transdermal Drug Delivery System) factory expansion. Daehwa acquired 25% stake in JHK Biopharma. The JV is conducting clinical trials including stomach cancer Phase 3 and combination therapy studies in China.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves20 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Daewoong Pharmaceutical: Korean mid-sized pharmaceutical company with overlapping prescription pharma, OTC, and consumer health exposure. Notably operates its own TDDS/patch franchise alongside core pharma, making Daewoong a particularly close peer on Daehwa's TDDS-anchored positioning.
• Yuhan Corporation: One of Korea's largest established pharmaceutical manufacturers with a branded prescription and OTC portfolio across multiple therapeutic areas. Comparable Korean-market sales channel structure (regional sales offices promoting to hospitals/clinics) and parallel internationalization push make this a direct peer.
• Hanmi Pharmaceutical: Mid-to-large Korean pharmaceutical company with a similar diversified branded and specialty product portfolio across cardiovascular, diabetes, oncology, and consumer health. Comparable therapeutic mix, Korean domestic sales-led GTM, and parallel overseas licensing strategy make it the closest direct Korean pharma peer.
• Ildong Pharmaceutical: Mid-sized Korean pharma with a comparable mix of branded prescription, OTC, health functional foods, and API businesses. Similar KOSDAQ-style listing and parallel emphasis on Korea sales-led growth make Ildong a directly comparable Korean pharma peer.
• Bukwang Pharmaceutical: Mid-sized Korean pharmaceutical manufacturer with branded prescription drugs, OTC, and consumer health exposure. Similar revenue scale, KOSDAQ/KOSPI listing background, and parallel R&D investment intensity make Bukwang a closely comparable Korean pharma peer.
• Samjin Pharmaceutical: Korean pharmaceutical company with a diversified branded prescription, OTC, and health functional food portfolio and history of international licensing/export activity. Therapeutic breadth and overseas GTM patterns mirror Daehwa's positioning.
• Dong-A ST: Korean pharmaceutical company with diversified branded prescription drugs, OTC products, and bio businesses (notably the Dong-A patch franchise). Overlapping therapy areas, Korean listing, and similar domestic GTM make Dong-A ST a direct comparable.

Broad incumbents

• Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical: Japanese global leader in transdermal patches (Lifuda, Mohrus, Salonpas) and broader specialty pharma. Hisamitsu is the dominant incumbent in Daehwa's TDDS niche — directly comparable patch technology, sustained-release formulation expertise, and global commercial reach.
• Celltrion: Large-cap Korean biopharmaceutical company with global biosimilar and specialty drug commercialization. Useful as a Korean-listed pharma benchmark for valuation and international licensing/commercialization patterns, though Celltrion's scale and biosimilar focus differ from Daehwa's branded small-molecule and TDDS franchise.
• Astellas Pharma: Major Japanese global pharmaceutical company with a diversified branded specialty pharma portfolio including oncology (where Daehwa's Liporaxel® competes adjacently). Useful as a global pharma benchmark for the trajectory of mid-cap oncology and specialty drug franchises at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Daehwa Pharmaceutical