From aspiring actor to regulatory Sherpa;
the journey of Santen’s head of global
compliance―Robert Van Leer

When employees at most companies think about their compliance function, humor, collaboration, and increased sales aren’t necessarily the first things that come to mind. Compliance functions are responsible for establishing the framework of systems, policies, and programs that allows employees to work ethically, legally, and responsibly. Compliance functions are essential guardrails within a company, but the idea of working with them doesn’t always elicit an enthusiastic response. However, that’s not the case at Santen.

Since 2020, Santen’s global compliance function has been spearheaded by Robert Van Leer, Vice President of Global Compliance. Robert entered the pharmaceutical industry as a Sales Representative in the early 2000s and transitioned into compliance roles at multiple leading pharmaceutical companies prior to joining Santen. While his career path isn’t necessarily unique, Robert’s lifelong passion for acting has allowed him to cultivate skills that bring greater depth to his work with Santen stakeholders.

Actors are communicators, and through training develop a set of skills—creativity, empathy, flexibility, listening and teamwork—that are essential for an authentic performance. He leverages these same skills when working with employees, physicians, patients and advocacy groups, fostering a positive perception of compliance while developing relationships based on openness and trust.

Robert’s interest in Santen was due to the opportunity to contribute to growing the global compliance function at an established company with a long and rich history that was also committed to embracing new challenges.

At Santen, Robert oversees all compliance departments worldwide, working to globalize processes and procedures while allowing for local and regional considerations. He emphasizes the importance of expanding possibilities, encouraging his team to find ways to achieve goals rather than accepting limitations.

“We are a team with a common goal,” he says. “Each year begins with an annual kick-off call to lay out the direction of the department and goals for that year. I share the overarching plan, and the team leads share how their plans align, while still allowing for local needs. Every compliance lead meets with their department heads to better understand the goals and direction of each department. They can then put together a comprehensive plan to help facilitate processes and mitigate potential risks. I meet with each compliance lead monthly to review plans, updates, initiatives, and other parameters to ensure that we are continuing to accomplish our goals. We also meet as a group several times a year to share experiences, struggles, and wins.”

Robert acknowledges the challenges and responsibilities associated with compliance roles in the pharmaceutical industry, emphasizing the importance of understanding broader business goals while ensuring adherence to regulations and ethical standards. His approach to compliance as a partnership with the business, rather than a hindrance, reflects a proactive and strategic mindset.

“I compare my position with a Sherpa, the indigenous people who have been guiding expeditions up Mount Everest for generations,” Robert says. “They know that mountain like the back of their hand. If you want to climb Everest, you’re not just going to go ahead and do it yourself, you’re going to hire a Sherpa because they understand what you want to achieve, the best way to get there. The Sherpa will be with you every step of the journey—guiding you, helping you avoid danger, and keeping you safe as you achieve the goal of reaching the summit. In compliance, our job is to help guide, navigate, and understand.”

As a specialized company dedicated to eye health, Santen aspires to contribute to the realization of “Happiness with Vision” by providing valuable products and services to patients, consumers, and medical professionals around the world. Compliance has a role to play in achieving this goal—for example, by ensuring the company delivers compliant messaging and activities that meet the needs of patient populations. “Patient interaction is now a hot topic, and government is looking deeper into patient interaction practices to ensure they are done so with strict compliance,” Robert says. “Acting with the highest ethical standards to get our message out there appropriately allows us to help deliver quality medicines to the patients we serve while staying compliant with local laws and regulations.”

Compliance helps the company navigate the complexities of patient interaction in a world where authorities are increasingly focused on transparency and ethical conduct. By ensuring that all communication and engagement with health care practitioners, health care organizations, and patients adhere to both internal policies and external regulations, the compliance function mitigates the risk of regulatory breaches, fines, and reputational damage. Without strong compliance oversight, companies could face significant risks—inadvertent violations of local laws, patient privacy concerns, or even accusations of unethical marketing practices—that could harm the company's reputation and its ability to serve the people who rely on its products.

Robert's short-term goals included major projects such as the Global Compliance Policy, Global Whistleblower system, and Global Due Diligence system, all of which have been completed. The compliance team recently earned a Santen Value Award for their efforts in creating and launching the Global Third-Party Due Diligence system.

“Our third-party due diligence program is designed to encourage employees to determine the appropriate course of action by considering the underlying social issues and intentions behind the laws and regulations. Corruption and bribery involving healthcare professionals and government officials are significant social issues in many countries, distorting medical practices and insurance systems. This can hinder patients, doctors, and communities from accessing affordable healthcare. To address this issue, it is not enough for Santen alone to comply with legal requirements—we must also work to ‘engage and influence’ those with whom we collaborate to ensure we all conduct business ethically and for the greater social good.”

Long-term, Robert intends to move the compliance department forward by addressing new and emerging risks in the digital age. He acknowledges the challenges of globalization, particularly the nuances of regulations that vary from country to country, and strives to balance overarching rules with cultural and legal differences.

“As the global healthcare landscape continues to evolve, pharmaceutical companies are increasingly facing new and complex compliance challenges,” he says. “From the rapid expansion of digital health technologies and AI to stricter regulations on data privacy and patient safety, risks are becoming more diverse and difficult to manage. Additionally, varying legal frameworks and ethical standards across different regions complicate compliance efforts. Globalized systems and processes are crucial for maintaining consistency, but aligning these across multiple jurisdictions often results in operational friction and inefficiencies. The challenge lies in building a compliance infrastructure that is both adaptable to local regulations and scalable for global oversight. It's a delicate balance between ensuring corporate integrity while fostering growth, in an industry that directly impacts the health and well-being of millions.”

Looking ahead, the Compliance function at Santen is “committed to working closely with all departments to ensure that the company can continue to bring valuable and effective solutions to patients while maintaining the highest ethical and legal standards,” Robert says. “By collaborating across the organization, Santen can ensure that its actions reflect the shared commitment to integrity and patient care.”