Christophe Bourdon, CEO of LEO Pharma, shares insights from his 30 years in the industry, emphasizing that innovation should genuinely impact patients' lives. He discusses LEO's focus on dermatology, revealing advancements in treatments for atopic dermatitis and chronic hand eczema. Christophe also highlights the significance of 'white-glove' patient support for rare diseases and the role of AI in enhancing patient detection. With sharp observations on the booming innovation from China, he champions the importance of aiming for real clinical breakthroughs over 'me-too' products.
13:02
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Innovation Must Change Patients' Lives
Christophe Bourdon believes translating innovation into real patient benefit is the core purpose of biopharma leadership.
He frames medical dermatology as a high-impact area with many unmet needs despite its prevalence.
insights INSIGHT
Focus On High-Unmet-Need Dermatology
LEO Pharma targets high unmet need areas within medical dermatology using a focused innovation filter.
The company prioritizes mechanisms likely to change standards of care across many neglected skin diseases.
question_answer ANECDOTE
From IL‑13 To First‑In‑Class Topical Success
LEO launched a first-in-class IL-13 biologic and built on that to develop targeted topicals and systemic options.
They achieved FDA approval for a CHC pan-JAK inhibitor without a black-box warning through formulation and trials.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Synopsis:
At a moment when biotech is rethinking growth, innovation, and patient impact, Alok Tayi sits down with Christophe Bourdon, Chief Executive Officer of LEO Pharma, to explore what it truly means to build a purpose-driven, commercial-stage biotech.
Drawing on three decades across Sanofi, Alexion, Amgen, and now LEO Pharma, Christophe shares a clear conviction: innovation only matters when it meaningfully changes patients’ lives. At LEO Pharma, that belief is shaping a focused strategy in medical dermatology, where over one-third of the global population is affected and thousands of skin diseases still lack approved treatments.
The conversation spans LEO Pharma’s evolution into a nearly $2B growth company, the rise of first-in-class therapies in atopic dermatitis and chronic hand eczema, and why formulation science, rare disease execution, and “white-glove” patient support are essential to changing standards of care. Christophe also offers sharp perspectives on AI-enabled scouting, the accelerating innovation coming out of China, and why biotech must resist “me-too” products in favor of true clinical breakthroughs.
From JPMorgan Healthcare Conference insights to deeply human stories of rare disease care at 4 a.m., this episode is a masterclass in disciplined growth, differentiated innovation, and patient-first leadership.
Biography:
Christophe joined LEO Pharma as CEO in April 2022 and has since led the company through a strategic transformation, sharpening its focus on innovation and external partnerships. Under his leadership, LEO Pharma has accelerated growth in key markets, advanced its pipeline, and strengthened its culture, reinforcing its position as a global leader in medical dermatology.
Before joining LEO Pharma, he served as CEO of Orphazyme A/S. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Amgen, including Senior Vice President and General Manager for the U.S. Oncology Business, and at Alexion as Senior Vice President, EMEAC, overseeing the commercial development of ultra-orphan therapies across 40 countries.
Christophe holds an MBA from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland, and a B.A. from the Institut Supérieur de Gestion (ISG) in Paris, France.
Biotech 2050 Podcast