What Veso does

VESO (Veterinærmedisinsk Oppdragssenter AS) is a Norwegian privately-held animal-health and aquaculture company headquartered in Oslo, with its core research facility in Namsos and operations across Norway, Iceland, Chile, and the United Kingdom. Founded in 1988 by the Norwegian Agricultural Science Council, privatized via management buyout in 2008–2010, and now majority-owned by AquaNova Invest AS, VESO operates three integrated divisions: PharmaVet (wholesale and pharmacy of veterinary medicines and health products for land animals and aquaculture), Aqualab (contract research services running GLP/GCP-compliant pre-clinical challenge trials and clinical field trials using reproducible challenge models for over 20 fish pathogens), and Hygiene & Biosecurity (disinfectants, antifouling, and biosecurity products). It also holds controlling interests in Brynsløkken AS (antifouling chemicals, since 2016) and Salmalytics AS (clinical study design and statistical analysis for aquaculture, since November 2025).

The company monetizes through a combination of one-time product sales (DEFOAM FG-10, Virocid, RAS Right nitrifying bacteria, Brynsløkken antifouling products) and professional services revenue from Aqualab's contract research and the 2024-launched regulatory consulting line, which together provide an end-to-end pathway from proof-of-concept trials through dossier compilation to market authorization for aquaculture pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and bacteriophages. Underlying technology includes state-of-the-art wet-lab facilities with adjustable holding tanks (5 to 13,000 liters, salinity 0 to ~33‰ from depths up to 60m), the VESO Connect digital platform for real-time trial monitoring, and — via the e-Lice research project — a computer-vision model achieving 91% accuracy in classifying sea lice developmental stages from UVP6 optical sensor imagery. VESO serves 1,800+ customers across fish farmers, veterinarians, animal-health businesses, agriculture, and pharmaceutical/biotech developers, and reports greater than 8x turnover growth and >14% average annual growth since privatization.

Name

Veso

Legal name

Veterinærmedisinsk Oppdragssenter AS

Website

https://veso.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

VESO is a Norwegian animal-health and aquaculture company operating PharmaVet wholesale, Aqualab contract research, and hygiene/biosecurity divisions across Norway, Iceland, Chile, and the UK, serving 1,800+ customers including fish farmers, veterinarians, and pharma developers with veterinary medicines, challenge trials, and regulatory consulting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquaculture Animal Health Services

NAICS

Aquaculture (11251), Aquaculture (1125), Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511), Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquaculture Health, Biosecurity & Veterinary Services (AFAEAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aquaculture & Fish Health Services (AFAEANAE), Toxicology & Safety Assessment CROs (GLP) (HLAGAAAC), Clinical Trial Supply, Logistics & Vendor Management FSP (HLAGAOAH)

Keywords

• Veterinary pharmaceuticals
• Aquaculture health products
• Contract research services
• Fish health research
• Regulatory consulting aquaculture

Headquarters

HQ city

Namsos

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical and Veterinary Products: Sale of veterinary pharmaceuticals, medicines, hygiene products, supplements, and health products for fish and land animals. Includes products like DEFOAM FG-10, Virocid, RAS Right products.
2. Contract Research Services: Pre-clinical laboratory trials and clinical field trials through VESO Aqualab to document efficacy and safety of products for aquaculture. Includes challenge trials, duration of protection studies, and GCP-compliant field trials.
3. Regulatory Consulting: Regulatory consulting services for product development and registration for the global aquaculture market, from proof of concept to market authorization. Services include strategic development plans, technical writing, dossier compilation, and regulatory submissions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

VESO develops, distributes, and supplies veterinary pharmaceuticals, medicines, supplements, hygiene products, and biosecurity solutions for fish farmers, aquaculture companies, veterinarians, and agricultural businesses. Through its VESO Aqualab division it runs GLP-compliant preclinical and GCP-compliant clinical contract research trials using standardized challenge models for over 20 fish pathogens, and provides regulatory consulting from proof of concept through market authorization for global aquaculture clients.

Product overview

VESO is a diversified aquaculture and animal health company operating through three main divisions: PharmaVet (wholesale/distribution of veterinary medicines and health products), Aqualab (contract research services), and Hygiene & Biosecurity. Aqualab serves as the core research platform offering standardized challenge models for Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, seabass and lumpfish, with pre-clinical and clinical trial capabilities. VESO Connect provides a digital customer portal for real-time trial monitoring. The company also distributes specific branded products (DEFOAM FG-10, Virocid, RAS Right products) and holds controlling interests in Brynsløkken (antifouling) and Salmalytics (data analysis). Regulatory consulting services were launched in 2024 to provide end-to-end support from proof-of-concept to market authorization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VESO Aqualab: Contract research facility specializing in conducting trials with infectious diseases in fish, offering pre-clinical and clinical trials with fish to document efficacy and safety of aquaculture products
• PharmaVet
• VESO Connect
• Brynsløkken

Products and services

• VESO Aqualab Contract Research Contract research facility offering preclinical (GLP) and clinical (GCP) trials to document efficacy and safety of aquaculture products, including challenge trials, duration of protection studies, and field trials for vaccine and pharmaceutical developers.
• VESO Connect Digital Service Digital service that lets customers monitor VESO Aqualab trials in real time, providing predictability and quality assurance in experiment execution via the customer portal.
• PharmaVet Wholesale & Pharmacy Wholesale and pharmacy operations distributing veterinary medicines, pharmaceuticals, supplements, care products, and trade goods to veterinarians, aquaculture operators, and animal health businesses.
• Regulatory Consulting Service Regulatory consulting for aquaculture product development and registration, including strategic development plans, technical writing, dossier compilation, field trial applications, and regulatory submissions to global authorities.
• Hygiene and Biosecurity Product Line Product line of disinfectants, biosecurity solutions, and hygiene products designed to ensure clean and safe production conditions in aquaculture and agricultural facilities and to prevent infection and disease.
• DEFOAM FG-10 Defoaming Agent Silicone-based defoaming agent used in well boats, tanks, and containers to control foam during fish transport and treatment operations.
• Virocid Disinfectant Disinfectant that inactivates Piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) at a 1% solution within 30 minutes, effective against the virus causing Heart and Skeletal Muscle Inflammation (HSMB) in Norwegian farmed salmon.
• RAS Right Nitrifying Bacteria Products Consortium of naturally occurring nitrifying bacteria in stable liquid form designed to support nitrification in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), transforming harmful ammonia into less toxic nitrate.
• Brynsløkken Antifouling Products Net antifouling and other chemical products for aquaculture developed and manufactured by Brynsløkken AS, in which VESO holds a 51% controlling interest acquired in 2016; the brand is a leading supplier to the Chilean fish farming industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pre-clinical and clinical trials can be conducted for GLP and GCP compliance
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SalmalyticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2025VESO acquired 51% of Salmalytics AS shares as part of a strategic collaboration to strengthen offerings in documentation, clinical studies, and data analysis for the aquaculture industry. Salmalytics, established in 2020, consists of professionals in veterinary medicine, biology, epidemiology, and aquaculture expertise. The partnership enables more comprehensive deliveries especially within clinical studies and statistical calculations.
• Brynsløkken AScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016VESO acquired 51% controlling interest in Brynsløkken AS in 2016. Company engaged in development and manufacturing of antifouling and other chemical products. Has established position as one of the leading suppliers in the industry.
• Akvaplan-nivacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration in e-Lice project to develop early warning system for sea lice detection. Akvaplan-niva led the project and provided research expertise in optical technology and underwater platforms for identifying free-swimming sea lice stages.
• Kongsberg DiscoverycoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner in e-Lice project responsible for the visualization platform 'Blue Insight' used with UVP6 sensor technology for sea lice detection.
• MP ConsultingcoreTechnology or IntegrationIP owner of UVP6 sensor technology, assisted the e-Lice project with experience from both construction and application of the sensor.
• SAIV AScoreTechnology or IntegrationDeveloped the smart buoy that integrated UVP6 sensor for the e-Lice project, enabling underwater deployment at various depths for sea lice monitoring.
• Nova SeacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquaculture company that provided localities and personnel for field testing of UVP6 sensor technology in the e-Lice project. Also participated in dashboard solution development.
• Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on PRV (Piscine orthoreovirus) study, investigating effectiveness of Virocid and biosecurity measures against the virus causing HSMI in Norwegian farmed salmon.
• Veterinærinstituttet (Norwegian Veterinary Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on PRV study and AGD (Amoebic Gill Disease) challenge model development. Provided expertise in pathogen identification and cultivation.
• NofimaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on PRV study. Previously known as Akvaforsk, partnered with VESO in Chile since 2007.
• XylemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on PRV study investigating disinfection effectiveness for aquaculture biosecurity.
• Norwegian School of Veterinary Science (NMBU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration in developing PRV challenge model for Atlantic salmon research.
• Nova QminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProduct partnership for distribution of RAS Right and RAS Right Marine - nitrifying bacteria products for water quality management in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS).

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Skretting (Nutreco): Skretting is the world's largest aquaculture feed supplier and part of Nutreco. While primarily feed-focused, it increasingly offers health-adjacent products and services to the same salmon farmer customer base that VESO serves.
• Ceva Santé Animale: Ceva is a top-five global animal health company with a significant aquaculture vaccines and pharmaceutical portfolio. It overlaps with VESO's PharmaVet distribution activities and competes in the same end-markets among salmon farmers.
• Elanco Animal Health: Elanco is a global animal health leader with aquaculture products and companion/livestock pharmaceuticals. It is comparable to VESO as a broad incumbent in veterinary pharma distribution and aquaculture health, though it is far larger and more diversified.
• Virbac: Virbac is a global animal health pharmaceutical company with products spanning companion animals, livestock, and aquaculture. Comparable to VESO as an established veterinary pharma player serving veterinarians and aquaculture operators.
• Phibro Animal Health: Phibro is a global animal health and nutrition company serving livestock and aquaculture markets. It overlaps with VESO in distribution of veterinary pharmaceuticals and health products to aquaculture and animal health customers.
• MSD Animal Health (aquaculture division): MSD Animal Health operates one of the largest aquaculture health portfolios globally, including vaccines and pharmaceuticals for salmon and warmwater species. It is a broad incumbent competing with VESO across both vaccine distribution and clinical research support.

Direct peers

• Benchmark Holdings: Benchmark Holdings is a leading aquaculture genetics, health, and nutrition company. It acquired VESO's former breeding and genetics business in 2015 and competes in adjacent fish health and breeding services, making it a closely comparable aquaculture-focused peer.
• Pharmaq (part of Zoetis): Pharmaq is the leading aquaculture vaccines and fish health company, now part of Zoetis. It directly overlaps with VESO's AquaLab and PharmaVet activities in supplying vaccines and health products to salmon farmers and using challenge models to support fish health product development.
• STIM (formerly Thalos): STIM is a France-based aquaculture contract research organization conducting fish health trials, challenge studies, and regulatory support. It is one of the closest direct peers to VESO Aqualab in terms of CRO services for fish pathogens and vaccine/pharmaceutical clients.

Emerging players

• Aqua Pharma: Aqua Pharma specializes in aquatic animal health products and treatments for farmed fish. It is an emerging peer in the aquaculture pharmaceuticals space, comparable to VESO's PharmaVet distribution and biosecurity product lines.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Veso