Afaxys
Afaxys is a Public Benefit Corporation combining pharmaceutical contraceptives (Afaxys Pharma) with a group purchasing organization (Afaxys GPO) to serve U.S. community and public health providers. Since 2015, it has been the #1 provider of oral and emergency contraceptives in U.S. clinics.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersCharleston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Afaxys does
Afaxys, Inc. is a privately held Public Benefit Corporation headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, founded in 2008 to ensure contraceptive supply security for community and public health providers. The company operates a dual model across three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Afaxys Pharma, LLC (a portfolio of branded and generic oral contraceptives, emergency contraceptives such as EContra/EContraOne-Step, and contraceptive patches, manufactured under contract with Famy Care and Aurobindo); Afaxys Group Services, LLC (a Group Purchasing Organization negotiating contracts with 2,500+ suppliers/distributors including McKesson and Cencora); and Afaxys Drug Development, LLC (which files NDAs and ANDAs in sexual and reproductive health).
Afaxys generates revenue through pharmaceutical product sales (transaction fees on contraceptives sold to health centers), GPO contract economics (suppliers pay to access Afaxys' member network of 8,900+ health center sites; membership is free to providers with no exclusivity or minimums), and product development/royalty upside from its drug development pipeline. The GPO is structured as a free, no-exclusivity membership with dedicated customer engagement representatives per account, while Afaxys Pharma distributes through direct field sales and major distributors.
The company has been the #1 provider of oral and emergency contraceptives dispensed in U.S. clinics since 2015 (per IQVIA data), having distributed over 27.5 million months of contraception since inception, and manages over $211M in annual contract spend through its GPO. It serves a distributed base of FQHCs, family planning clinics (including Planned Parenthood affiliates), free and charitable clinics, college/university health centers, qualified private practices, and rape crisis centers. Notable events include 2024 Public Benefit Corporation designation, a 2025 $8M grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation for a contraceptive targeting marginalized communities, and the January 2026 transition from co-founder/CEO Ronda Dean to Christian Bloomgren.
Afaxys firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Afaxys
- Legal name
- Afaxys, Inc.
- Website
- https://afaxys.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Afaxys is a Public Benefit Corporation combining pharmaceutical contraceptives (Afaxys Pharma) with a group purchasing organization (Afaxys GPO) to serve U.S. community and public health providers. Since 2015, it has been the #1 provider of oral and emergency contraceptives in U.S. clinics.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Afaxys industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare
- NAICS
- Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (45611)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Copay Assistance, Patient Support & Affordability Programs (HLAEAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Medication Pricing, Copay Assistance & Patient Financial Support Tools (HLACAKAN), Health & Pharmacy Omnichannel (CRAFAEAK)
Keywords
Where Afaxys is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Charleston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Afaxys business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Afaxys Pharma generates revenue from the sale of branded and generic contraceptives (oral contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, contraceptive patches) to community and public healthcare markets through health centers.
- GPO Membership and Contract Negotiations: Afaxys Group Services operates a Group Purchasing Organization that negotiates favorable pricing across a broad base of products and services. Membership is free with no minimum purchase volumes. Revenue is generated through negotiated contract arrangements with suppliers who pay to access the GPO's member network.
- Contraceptive Product Development: Secured $8 million in August (year not specified, context of 2025 news) to develop a contraceptive tailored for marginalized communities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Free GPO Membership |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | GPO Supplier Participation |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Afaxys product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Afaxys operates through two integrated businesses: Afaxys Pharma distributes a broad portfolio of branded and generic contraceptives (oral contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, and contraceptive patches) directly to community and public health centers. Afaxys Group Services operates a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) that negotiates favorable pricing across pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and business services for its health center members, with free membership and no exclusivity requirements.
Product overview
Afaxys is a Public Benefit Corporation founded in 2008, operating as a healthcare company that uniquely partners with community and public healthcare providers to ensure access to affordable sexual and reproductive healthcare. The company operates through two main subsidiaries: Afaxys Pharma, LLC (a broad portfolio of branded and generic contraceptives including oral contraceptives, emergency contraceptives like EContra/EContraOne-Step, and contraceptive patches) and Afaxys Group Services, LLC (a Group Purchasing Organization that negotiates favorable pricing across products and services). Afaxys also includes Afaxys Drug Development, which develops hard-to-acquire drugs and applies for NDAs/ANDAs in sexual and reproductive health. Since 2015, Afaxys has been the #1 provider of oral and emergency contraceptives in U.S. clinics, serving over 10,000 health centers nationwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Afaxys GPO: Group Purchasing Organization that negotiates favorable pricing across a broad base of products and services for community and public health providers.
Products and services
- Oral Contraceptives Portfolio Broad portfolio of branded and generic oral birth control pills including Aubra, Chateal, Lyza, Tarina, Cyred, VyLibra, TriVyLibra, Tri-VyLibra Lo, Tarina 24 Fe, and Jasmiel, sold to community and public health centers.
- EContra / EContraOne-Step Emergency contraceptive product (morning-after pill) available as a single-dose levonorgestrel tablet, one of Afaxys's leading emergency contraception offerings.
- Contraceptive Patch One of the birth control options offered by Afaxys Pharma alongside oral and emergency contraceptives.
- Lidocaine FDA essential medicine launched in 2022, sold to community and public health providers.
- Afaxys GPO Membership and Procurement Services Group Purchasing Organization that negotiates favorable pricing across pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, office supplies, and business services for health center members. Free membership with no minimum purchase volumes or exclusivity requirements, providing access to 2,500+ contracted suppliers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 27.5 million months of contraception distributed since 2015
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Afaxys
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Afaxys technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature1 record
Afaxys partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- UpstreamminorUpstream works with health centers to strengthen reproductive care and autonomy by increasing equitable access to the full range of contraceptive options. They provide patient-centered training and technical assistance to FQHCs, hospital systems, and state/local health departments at no cost to partners. Featured as a partnership on the Afaxys GPO website.
- CencoracoreCencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen) is featured as a supplier/distributor partner in the Afaxys GPO supplier network, providing pharmaceutical and medical supply distribution services to GPO members.
- McKessoncoreMcKesson is a key contracted supplier and distributor for the Afaxys GPO. A GPO member reported annualized savings of 18.7% through the Afaxys agreement with McKesson for medical supplies.
- Birth Control Ring Alliance (unnamed)minorEntered into an alliance in 2020-2021 to expand access to a birth control ring in the U.S. public health sector.
- CommonWealth Purchasing Group (CPG)coreAfaxys GPO partnership with CPG expands its portfolio of projects and contracts, giving members additional access to products and service providers. This affiliation is presented as a key differentiator in the GPO's competitive positioning.
- MediGroupcorePartnership with MediGroup (The Specialty GPO) expands Afaxys GPO's reach and capabilities, providing members access to additional specialty products and service providers across the healthcare sector.
- AurobindocoreSigned contract manufacturing agreement with Aurobindo, expanding manufacturing capacity for generic contraceptive products.
- PRJKT RUBYminorAfaxys supported the creation of the first oral contraceptive telemedicine platform through PRJKT RUBY in 2014, expanding access to contraception through digital channels.
- Bayer PharmaceuticalscoreFormed strategic co-promotion with Bayer Pharmaceuticals in 2014 to expand access to IUD products in public and community health centers. Later continued as a key pharmaceutical partner.
- Non-profit IUD Partner (unnamed)minorFormed new IUD co-promotion with a non-profit company in 2016-2017 to address unmet needs in the public health sector for intrauterine devices.
- Famy CarecoreSigned contract manufacturing agreement with Famy Care for the production of contraceptive products, enabling Afaxys to launch its first three oral contraceptive products (Aubra, Chateal, Lyza).
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Afaxys competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Organon & Co. Global women's health pharmaceutical company spun out of Merck in 2021 with a portfolio spanning contraceptives, fertility, and reproductive health. Directly comparable to Afaxys Pharma as a women's-health-focused pharma manufacturer/distributor targeting similar patient populations and provider channels.
- Bayer Pharmaceuticals: Multinational pharmaceutical company and Afaxys's IUD co-promotion partner, with major contraceptive brands including Mirena, Kyleena, Yaz, and Beyaz. Comparable to Afaxys Pharma as a competitor and partner in U.S. clinic-channel contraceptive distribution, particularly in long-acting reversible contraception.
- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries: One of the world's largest generic pharmaceutical manufacturers with a substantial U.S. oral contraceptive portfolio. Directly comparable to Afaxys Pharma as a generic contraceptive manufacturer competing in the same clinic and pharmacy channels.
- Mayne Pharma: Specialty pharmaceutical company focused on women's health and generic oral contraceptives marketed to U.S. healthcare providers. Comparable to Afaxys Pharma in product category, customer base (clinics and prescribers), and go-to-market model.
- Endo International: Specialty pharmaceutical company with historical strength in women's health and generics, including oral contraceptives. Comparable to Afaxys as a women's health-focused pharma manufacturer with similar regulatory and channel dynamics.
- Perrigo Company: Large generic pharmaceutical and consumer health company with a meaningful store-brand and generic oral contraceptive portfolio. Comparable to Afaxys Pharma as a low-cost generic contraceptive supplier competing on price and access.
- CooperSurgical: Women's health medical device and pharmaceutical company with significant presence in fertility, contraception (including IUDs), and OB/GYN clinic supplies. Comparable to Afaxys Pharma as a women's health-focused supplier serving the same clinic customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Vizient: Largest healthcare performance improvement and GPO company in the U.S., serving hospitals and large health systems. Comparable to Afaxys GPO as a healthcare group purchasing organization, though much larger in scale and oriented toward acute-care systems rather than community/public health.
- Premier Inc. Healthcare GPO and performance improvement company serving hospitals, health systems, and other providers. Comparable to Afaxys GPO in business model (negotiated supplier contracts for member savings) but operates at much broader institutional scale.
- HealthTrust Performance Group: Healthcare GPO serving hospitals, health systems, and ambulatory providers with negotiated supply contracts. Comparable to Afaxys GPO in core business model (supplier contract aggregation for member savings), though with a more acute-care and ambulatory-surgery orientation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Afaxys social profiles
Digital presenceAfaxys compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Afaxys financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Afaxys leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Afaxys subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Afaxys funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Afaxys M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Afaxys
What does Afaxys do?
Afaxys operates through two integrated businesses: Afaxys Pharma distributes a broad portfolio of branded and generic contraceptives (oral contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, and contraceptive patches) directly to community and public health centers. Afaxys Group Services operates a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) that negotiates favorable pricing across pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and business services for its health center members, with free membership and no exclusivity requirements.
Is Afaxys a public or private company?
Afaxys is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Afaxys founded?
Afaxys was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Afaxys based?
Afaxys is headquartered in Charleston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Afaxys make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Pharmaceutical Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are GPO Membership and Contract Negotiations and contraceptive Product Development.
Who are Afaxys's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Organon & Co., Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Mayne Pharma, Endo International, Perrigo Company and CooperSurgical. Broad incumbents are Vizient, Premier Inc. and HealthTrust Performance Group.
Does Afaxys have an API?
No public API is recorded for Afaxys.
What industry is Afaxys in?
Afaxys's product category is Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAEAKAI, Copay Assistance, Patient Support & Affordability Programs, with a secondary code of HLACAKAN, Medication Pricing, Copay Assistance & Patient Financial Support Tools. Its NAICS code is 45611 and its SIC code is 2834.