The Emirates Dermatology Society (EDS) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with LEO Pharma to raise awareness of Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE), promote earlier diagnosis and strengthen disease management across the UAE.
The agreement was formalised on 6 July 2026 during the launch of LEO Pharma’s new regional headquarters at Expo City Dubai, a development that underscores the company’s expanding footprint in the Gulf’s dermatology sector. Under the partnership, the two organisations will work to build a coordinated framework spanning earlier symptom recognition, timely diagnosis, patient education and closer engagement with healthcare professionals, with the ultimate aim of improving outcomes for those affected by the condition.
Frederik Kier, Executive Vice President for International Operations at LEO Pharma, said “The disorder carries a significant toll that extends well beyond physical symptoms, affecting patients’ emotional health, social lives and careers. He noted that combining EDS’s clinical expertise with LEO Pharma’s global dermatology knowledge would help drive earlier detection and better disease management, adding that the collaboration and the company’s growing Dubai presence reflect a long-term commitment to patients and dermatology care throughout the UAE and the broader region.”
Chronic Hand Eczema ranks among the most widespread hand-related skin conditions, thought to affect roughly one in every twenty people globally. Its symptoms, including persistent itching, pain, redness, swelling, blistering, bleeding and skin cracking, can take a heavy toll on sufferers’ daily functioning, mental wellbeing and ability to maintain social and professional routines. Despite how common it is, the condition is frequently overlooked and inadequately treated, highlighting a clear gap in public understanding and early intervention.
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The MoU was signed to coincide with the opening of LEO Pharma’s new Expo City Dubai office, which will function as the base for the company’s Emerging Markets leadership team. The company identified the UAE as a critical market for healthcare innovation and the uptake of advanced treatments, positioning it as a natural hub for regional operations. From this base, LEO Pharma intends to deepen ties with dermatologists, healthcare providers, government bodies and industry partners, while enabling faster rollout of dermatology solutions across the GCC and other emerging markets.
Through the new office and the EDS partnership, LEO Pharma said it is working to widen access to specialist dermatology care and improve outcomes for patients managing chronic skin conditions across the region.
