Leo Pharma and Scripps Research Institute to study new therapies

Leo Pharma is allying with the Scripps Research Institute on new research into innovative methods of treating skin disease.

The two organisations have agreed a research collaboration focusing on the development of practical synthetic routes to complex natural products of importance to addressing complaints of this kind.

Specifically, Leo Pharma will be working with Professor Phil Baran, a highly-reputed organic chemist operating a laboratory at the institute, with fundamental natural product chemistry studies to be combined with biomedical research.

Professor Baran said the products that Leo Pharma aims to create will require the application of innovative scientific approaches.

Tore Duvold, senior vice-president of new product discovery at Leo Pharma, said: "Our goal is to share knowledge and achieve findings that can be directly applied to Leo Pharma's research and development within dermatology."

Mr Duvold was appointed to his current role earlier this month as part of corporate restructuring initiatives that will support Leo Pharma's efforts to increase its focus on the skincare sector.