Daewoong Pharmaceutical Indonesia

“Good Medicines for Indonesian Patients... Where Daewoong's Sincerity Begins: Clinical Research”

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July 15, 2025

‍ - Building the Perfect Trio: Research Facilities, Clinical Competence, and Top Talent

Dr. Stella Melisa, Chief Medical Officer, Daewoong Pharmaceutical Indonesia

Stella Melissa, who has been leading pharmaceutical development in Indonesia.

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She now continues her career journey as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) overseeing Daewoong's local clinical trials in Indonesia.

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Captivated by Daewoong’s ambition to transform Indonesia into a clinical trial hub, she decided to join the journey. Here's her story.

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Q&A

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Q1. Hello, Stella! Please introduce yourself.

Hello. I’m Stella Melissa, serving as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Daewoong Pharmaceutical Indonesia.

I majored in medicine and have built my career across a wide range of fields—from direct patient care to medical strategy in global pharmaceutical companies.

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Most recently, I served as the Senior Medical Lead for the Hematology division at PT. Novartis Indonesia, where I oversaw medical strategy development, clinical research, launch preparation, and collaboration with experts.

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Previously, I spent 10 years at PT. Astellas Pharma Indonesia, where I built the Medical Affairs department from the ground up, led local and global clinical trials, and spearheaded cross-functional collaborations.

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Earlier in my career, I worked in hospitals, insurance companies, and private clinics, gaining hands-on experience in patient care and understanding the operational structure of healthcare delivery.

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With clinical insight and organizational leadership as my foundation, my core career value is to realize patient-centered innovation.

Q2. What motivated you to join Daewoong?

There are three key reasons I was drawn to Daewoong.

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First, Daewoong is not merely a pharmaceutical supplier—it has a clear vision of transforming Indonesia into a global hub for clinical trials.

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To achieve this, Daewoong established centers at UI (bio research), ITB (chemical formulation), and IPB (preclinical research), thereby building a comprehensive infrastructure that spans preclinical, bio, and chemical research. The collaborative research system with major universities impressed me deeply, as it lays the foundation for independently operating clinical trials within Indonesia.

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Second, Daewoong has gathered clinical data for a P-CAB (potassium-competitive acid blocker) new drug based on trials conducted with local Indonesian patients.

It is rare for global healthcare companies to conduct efficacy-based trials specifically on Indonesians.

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I believe this is more than a strategic move—it strengthens the clinical capabilities of Indonesian medical professionals and enables more accurate, effective prescriptions for local patients. As a medical professional, I resonate deeply with this philosophy.

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Third, I was inspired by Daewoong’s practical approach to talent development, such as the MD Associate Program.

This program allows physicians to experience various roles in the pharmaceutical industry, providing an integrated pathway to becoming globally capable medical professionals.

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This kind of hands-on talent development is essential for the sustainability of Indonesia’s healthcare industry.

In this regard, I believe Daewoong is truly a ‘value-driven’ healthcare company, and I feel proud to be part of this meaningful journey.

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Q3. What aspect of Daewoong’s corporate culture impressed you the most?

The value of Collaboration.

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Healthcare is not a field that can be accomplished alone—it requires close partnerships among physicians, researchers, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders.

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What impressed me most is how Daewoong puts this collaboration into action through a “WIN-WIN-WIN” philosophy. This aligns strongly with my own leadership beliefs.

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“Win-Win-Win” means not only our company benefits, but also our customers and society. For example, as a company, we pursue sustainable growth; our customers provide high-quality medicine to patients; and through academic programs, they can enhance their professional expertise.

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In the process, we nurture talent and empower young medical scientists to freely engage in research—benefiting Indonesian society as a whole.

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Q4. What kind of leadership do you aim to practice at Daewoong?

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I pursue a leadership style that balances strategic thinking with people-centered operations.

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I believe open communication, building trust, and fostering a culture of continuous learning are essential.

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My goal is to support team members in their individual growth and to lead in creating a positive synergy within the organization.

Q5. Do you have any future goals or plans you would like to share?

I would like to leave a meaningful legacy in two key areas.

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First, expanding access to healthcare so that more patients can receive proper treatment.

Access means not only the ability to reach hospitals and clinics, but also giving physicians a wide range of treatment options and addressing unmet medical needs.

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As a CMO of a healthcare company, I aim to contribute to improving treatment options and meeting these unmet needs, thereby enhancing the quality of life for Indonesian patients.

Second, I want to build an organizational culture where inclusion and innovation coexist, enabling each individual to discover their own growth path.

I deeply value the principle that “If my role is clear, when and where I work doesn’t matter.”

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Daewoong’s autonomy-based culture allows members to immerse themselves in work in a way that suits them best, naturally leading to deep personal growth.

By further reinforcing this culture, I hope to create an environment where everyone’s unique potential is respected and fully realized.

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One day in the future, I want the people who worked with me to look back and say, “During that time at Daewoong, I truly grew a lot.” That is the kind of leader I aspire to be.

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‍ - Building the Perfect Trio: Research Facilities, Clinical Competence, and Top Talent

Dr. Stella Melisa, Chief Medical Officer, Daewoong Pharmaceutical Indonesia

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