Pharmacosmos

What Pharmacosmos does

Pharmacosmos A/S is a family-owned Danish pharmaceutical company founded in 1965 and headquartered in Holbæk, Denmark, specializing in iron metabolism therapeutics and carbohydrate chemistry. Its commercial portfolio centers on intravenous iron therapies — Monofer (ferric derisomaltose 100 mg/ml), CosmoFer (low molecular weight iron dextran), and Diafer (ferric derisomaltose 50 mg/ml) — sold to hospitals and healthcare providers for treatment of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia across chronic kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, heart failure, cardiac surgery, and oncology supportive care indications. Through the August 2024 acquisition of G1 Therapeutics (~$405M), the company added trilaciclib (COSELA), a first-in-class CDK4/6 inhibitor approved in the U.S. for chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer and now in Phase III for limited-stage disease. The company also markets Uniferon (veterinary iron dextran) across 20+ countries and produces pharmaceutical-grade dextrans — for which it holds the unique dual FDA/EU approval position — alongside PentaHibe cryopreservation formulations serving cell and gene therapy developers. Earlier acquisitions of AbFero Pharmaceuticals (2021) brought iron chelator assets SP-420 and petadeferitrin (currently Phase II in transfusion-dependent thalassemia), extending the franchise into iron overload indications.

The company operates through a combination of wholly-owned sales affiliates in the US, UK, Germany, Canada, Nordics, and (until 2026) China, supplemented by commercial partners reaching more than 80 countries. Revenue surpassed DKK 3 billion in 2025, having doubled over three years, with no external financing required — the firm is fully funded by retained earnings and family ownership across three generations of the Christensen family. Pricing is determined through national reimbursement systems, hospital tenders, and country-level commercial negotiations rather than published list prices. The Holbæk cGMP facility is positioned by the company as having capacity to meet global demand for intravenous iron, supporting full vertical integration from dextran API manufacturing through finished pharmaceutical products. There is no disclosed AI/ML capability; competitive positioning rests on proprietary carbohydrate chemistry, dual-regulatory approvals, and manufacturing scale rather than data or computational assets.

Name

Pharmacosmos

Legal name

Pharmacosmos A/S

Website

https://pharmacosmos.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Pharmacosmos is a family-owned Danish pharmaceutical company developing and commercializing intravenous iron therapies (Monofer, CosmoFer, Diafer), the oncology supportive care drug trilaciclib (COSELA), and pharmaceutical-grade dextrans, serving hospitals, healthcare providers, and pharma manufacturers across 80+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intravenous Iron Therapies

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Cardiology & Vascular Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Medicated Feed Additives & Premixes (Veterinary Pharmaceuticals) (HLAMAEAN)

Keywords

• Intravenous iron therapy
• Iron deficiency treatment
• Pharmaceutical dextrans
• Carbohydrate chemistry
• Oncology supportive care

Headquarters

HQ city

Holbæk

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Products: Revenue from sale of proprietary iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia treatments including Monofer, CosmoFer, Diafer, and from oncology supportive care product COSELA (trilaciclib)
2. Carbohydrate Products: Revenue from sale of pharmaceutical quality dextrans, dextran derivatives, and PentaHibe cryopreservation formulations to pharmaceutical and biotech customers
3. Animal Health Products: Revenue from Uniferon veterinary iron products for piglet iron deficiency prevention, available in more than 20 countries

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pharmacosmos develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary intravenous iron therapies (Monofer/ferric derisomaltose, CosmoFer, Diafer) for treating iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia, along with the oncology supportive care product COSELA (trilaciclib). The company also produces pharmaceutical quality dextrans and PentaHibe cryopreservation formulations through its carbohydrate chemistry expertise, and markets Uniferon for veterinary iron deficiency in piglets.

Product overview

Pharmacosmos is a fully integrated pharmaceutical company offering a portfolio of iron deficiency treatments and carbohydrate-based products. The core pharmaceutical portfolio includes intravenous iron therapies: Monofer (ferric derisomaltose 100mg/ml), Diafer (ferric derisomaltose 50mg/ml), CosmoFer (low Mw iron dextran), and Trilaciclib/COSELA (for chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression). The animal health division markets Uniferon for piglet iron deficiency. In carbohydrates, Pharmacosmos produces pharmaceutical quality dextrans and derivatives (the only company approved by both US FDA and EU authorities) and PentaHibe cryopreservation formulations. The company also has research programs including petadeferitrin (iron chelator for iron overload) and acquired SP-420 from AbFero. Products are marketed in more than 80 countries through subsidiaries in the US, UK, Germany, Canada, China, and Nordic regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Monofer: Ferric derisomaltose 100mg/ml - intravenous iron product
• Monoferric
• CosmoFer
• Diafer
• Uniferon
• Cosela
• Pentahibe
• Dextran
• PentaHibe

Products and services

• Monofer Ferric derisomaltose 100 mg/ml intravenous iron therapy for the treatment of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia in adult patients across multiple disease areas. Sold to hospitals, infusion centers, and healthcare providers.
• CosmoFer Low molecular weight iron dextran formulation for intravenous iron therapy used in the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia. Sold to hospitals and healthcare providers.
• Diafer Ferric derisomaltose 50 mg/ml solution for injection used in the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia. Sold to hospitals and healthcare providers.
• Trilaciclib (COSELA) 300 mg/vial trilaciclib injection for chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression, approved in the United States for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Sold to oncology centers and hospitals.
• Uniferon Ferric hydroxide complex with low molecular weight dextran fraction (200 mg elemental iron per ml) injectable iron product for prevention and treatment of iron deficiency anaemia in piglets. Available in more than 20 countries and sold to pig farmers and veterinarians.
• Pharmaceutical Dextrans Pharmaceutical quality dextrans, dextran derivatives, and customised dextrans approved by both the US FDA and EU authorities. Used as APIs, excipients for final formulations, drug products, solutions for injection and infusion, and in medical devices. Sold to pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
• PentaHibe Natural, carbohydrate-based cryoprotective agent providing a safer alternative to DMSO for cryopreservation of cells, with a dedicated line of cryopreservation formulations designed for cell therapies. Sold to pharmaceutical and biotech customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 25 clinical trials conducted across disease areas including CKD, IBD, cardiac surgery, and chronic heart failure
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• G1 Therapeutics, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 August 2024Pharmacosmos acquired G1 Therapeutics Inc. in 2024 for approximately $405 million to obtain COSELA (trilaciclib), a first-in-class therapy for chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in small cell lung cancer patients. This acquisition strengthens Pharmacosmos's oncology supportive care offerings and expands its U.S. market presence.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Takeda Pharmaceutical: Takeda is a global specialty pharmaceutical company with hematology and rare disease franchises that overlap with Pharmacosmos's iron therapy and rare disease chelation ambitions.
• Sanofi: Sanofi operates a broad specialty care franchise including iron deficiency treatments and competing hospital-administered therapies, making it a broader incumbent overlapping with Pharmacosmos's hospital channel.
• Pfizer: Pfizer, through its Hospira acquisition, holds US rights to Injectafer (ferric carboxymaltose) and competes broadly in specialty injectable pharmaceuticals overlapping with Pharmacosmos's hospital-administered iron therapy market.
• GSK: GSK is a broad incumbent pharmaceutical company; Pharmacosmos's CCO previously held medical affairs and marketing roles at GSK, and GSK operates in overlapping specialty pharma and hospital-administered therapeutic areas.
• Abbott Laboratories: Abbott historically partnered with Pharmacosmos for dextran API supply in the US and is a broad incumbent in hospital-administered injectable pharmaceuticals and diagnostics that overlap with Pharmacosmos's hospital channel.

Direct peers

• CSL Vifor: CSL Vifor (formerly Vifor Pharma) is the leading specialty company in iron deficiency, marketing Ferinject/Injectafer competitor products and a similar portfolio of intravenous iron therapies, making it the most direct peer to Pharmacosmos's Monofer/CosmoFer franchise.
• Fresenius Kabi: Fresenius Kabi markets Venofer (iron sucrose) and other IV iron products, competing directly with Pharmacosmos's iron deficiency anemia franchise globally.
• American Regent (Daiichi Sankyo): American Regent, a Daiichi Sankyo subsidiary, markets Injectafer (ferric carboxymaltose), the most prominent IV iron competitor to Pharmacosmos's Monofer in the US and global markets.

Regional players

• Novo Nordisk: Novo Nordisk is a Danish-headquartered global pharmaceutical leader; multiple Pharmacosmos board members and executives previously held senior positions at Novo Nordisk, and both companies operate Danish specialty pharma businesses with global reach.
• Lundbeck: Lundbeck is a Danish-headquartered specialty pharmaceutical company; multiple Pharmacosmos board members and executives previously held senior positions at Lundbeck, and both companies compete in the European specialty pharma market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pharmacosmos

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Pharmacosmos