From domestic sales to the global brand general

Challenging anticancer drugs in sales of chronic diseases

Launch results from Glivec to Tagrisso

Global expansion beyond Korea

Considering healthcare systems around the world such as in Russia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and South America, the company will set up a strategy to launch a new anti-cancer drug.

 

It is the main job of Kim Soo-yeon (48), executive director of the International Lung Cancer Brand, at AstraZeneca.

 

Managing director Kim's role has also grown as the number of new anti-cancer drug pipelines from companies such as Tagrisso and Enhertu has increased.

 

Having been working in Singapore for two years, he is neither a study abroad nor a pharmacist or doctor.

 

Executive Director Kim is the only case in a multinational pharmaceutical company where a native Korean, not an expert or a study abroad, has stood as a global marketer.

 

Kim, who met in Singapore, cited four things.

 

"I think confidence, courage, responsibility, and people have grown me this much." It is also something that executive director Kim wants to emphasize the most to his juniors.

 

In fact, she plucked up courage in certain areas.

 

Kim, who set foot in the domestic pharmaceutical industry about 20 years ago with cardiovascular sales at Pfizer Korea, moved to Novartis with the aim of marketing anticancer drugs.

 

At that time, multinational pharmaceutical companies were just starting to set up an anti-cancer drug division.

 

"I had a clear goal.

 

I thought the market for anticancer drugs, which is more grounded and directly affects patients' lives, would grow, and I thought I should be in charge of anticancer drugs.

 

I went to Novartis and launched the first targeted anticancer drug, Glivec, and I did a lot of work to tell them what targeted anticancer drugs were.

 

Another targeted anti-cancer drug, Tasigna, was launched." Based on the successful launch of anticancer drugs such as Glivec and Tasigna, AstraZeneca contributed to the rapid introduction of Tagrisso in Korea.

 

Korea's approval of Tagrisso was the fifth in the world.

 

Kim was not satisfied with her domestic success.

 

It has jumped into unfamiliar markets such as the Middle East and South America.

 

Executive Director Kim was in charge of Tagrisso marketing in all global markets except the United States, Europe, and Japan.

 

The situation was not good because it was a time when COVID-19 was spreading.

 

Even under difficult conditions, Executive Director Kim successfully launched Tagriso and was promoted to the general manager of lung cancer once again after a year and 10 months of promotion.

 

"In fact, the domestic anticancer drug market knows the market to some extent, so I was able to work well.

 

I think it's time to try something new.

 

When I was in charge of global marketing, the Middle East and South America were really unfamiliar.

 

She didn't know anything about culture, economic conditions, government policies, and healthcare systems.

 

It is also greatly affected by the international situation such as COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war.

 

On the contrary, it was new and fun to understand the market.

 

It was also fun to communicate with employees all over the world." She made it his first goal to be responsible and influential in a given role until the end.

 

In countries where the early diagnosis of lung cancer is not well performed, cooperation continued to activate the early diagnosis system.

 

It is not just about introducing products, but about increasing the size of the market.

 

Executive Director Kim's marketing strategy is to lead early diagnosis as an important agenda and create an ecosystem where lung cancer treatments can be used for patients at an appropriate time.

 

Executive Director Kim stressed that such success cannot be achieved alone.

 

As a mother of two children, the support and support of the family became the driving force to focus on work.

 

The good influence of the surrounding seniors and juniors became manure and grew Executive Director Kim.

 

This is why executive director Kim values "people." "People are important in the family, in the company, and everywhere.

 

I was able to come here because my family supported my children when they were young.

 

The company should also help each other so that the seniors and juniors can grow together.

 

I can't succeed alone just because I'm good.

 

With confidence, courage, and responsibility, what matters is people."