Dr. Falk Pharma
Dr. Falk Pharma is a privately held, family-owned German specialty pharmaceutical company founded in 1960 that develops and commercializes topical gastrointestinal and hepatology medicines (Salofalk, Budenofalk, Ursofalk, Jorveza) across Europe, Australia, and Canada, serving patients with IBD, eosinophilic esophagitis, and cholestatic liver diseases.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1960
- HeadquartersFreiburg Im Breisgau, Germany
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Dr. Falk Pharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dr. Falk Pharma
- Legal name
- Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH
- Website
- https://drfalkpharma.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1960
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Dr. Falk Pharma is a privately held, family-owned German specialty pharmaceutical company founded in 1960 that develops and commercializes topical gastrointestinal and hepatology medicines (Salofalk, Budenofalk, Ursofalk, Jorveza) across Europe, Australia, and Canada, serving patients with IBD, eosinophilic esophagitis, and cholestatic liver diseases.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dr. Falk Pharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Gastroenterology & Hepatology Pharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Gastroenterology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Gastroenterology & Hepatology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAI), General Gastroenterology (HLAKAEAA)
Keywords
Where Dr. Falk Pharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Freiburg Im Breisgau
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
Dr. Falk Pharma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Dr. Falk Pharma develops and commercializes innovative medicines for digestive and metabolic diseases. The company markets branded pharmaceutical products including Azafalk, Budenofalk, Endofalk, Jorveza, Mucofalk, Salofalk, and Ursofalk across Europe, Australia, and Canada.
- Licensing and Development Agreements: The company generates revenue through licensing deals and co-development partnerships. In 2025, Merck paid $150M upfront for development and commercialization rights to MK-8690, with potential additional payments and royalties.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Dr. Falk Pharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dr. Falk Pharma is a research-based pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes prescription medicines for digestive and metabolic diseases. Its portfolio focuses on topically acting drugs delivered to specific functional segments of the gastrointestinal tract, including treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, microscopic colitis), eosinophilic esophagitis (Jorveza), and cholestatic liver diseases (Ursofalk for PBC). The company markets branded products such as Salofalk, Budenofalk, Jorveza, Ursofalk, Endofalk, Azafalk, and Mucofalk across Europe, Australia, and Canada.
Product overview
Dr. Falk Pharma is a research-based family business specializing in digestive and metabolic medicine, developing and distributing pharmaceutical products for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cholestatic liver diseases, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and other gastroenterological conditions. The product portfolio includes core marketed brands such as Budenofalk® (budesonide), Salofalk® (mesalazine), Ursofalk® (ursodeoxycholic acid), Jorveza® (budesonide orodispersible tablet for EoE), Azafalk®, Endofalk®, and Mucofalk®, along with pipeline candidates including naronapride (Phase 3 for gastroparesis) and norursodeoxycholic acid (Phase 3 for PSC). The company operates globally with subsidiaries across Europe and partners with organizations including Renexxion Ireland and Merck for development programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Falk Foundation e.V. Scientific foundation that organizes and supports scientific dialogue to advance therapeutic progress in gastroenterology and hepatology. Facilitates exchange of knowledge through Falk Forums, Falk Futures, symposia, Falk Gastro Review Journal, and Falk Gastro Education.
- Jorveza®
- Corum
Products and services
- Salofalk
- Budenofalk
- Jorveza
- Ursofalk
- Endofalk
- Azafalk
- Mucofalk
Quantifiable outcome
- 58% of patients achieving clinico-pathological remission with JORVEZA
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Dr. Falk Pharma
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Dr. Falk Pharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Dr. Falk Pharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Renexxion IrelandcoreCo-development partnership for naronapride (RWJ-355280), a pan-GI prokinetic with dual mechanism of action for gastroparesis treatment. Following positive Phase 2b MOVE-IT trial results (328 patients), the companies are advancing into pivotal Phase 3 studies with plans for regulatory-harmonized global development program for US and European approval.
- EwopharmamajorRenewed distribution partnership for Central Eastern Europe and Adriatics region, continuing long-standing collaboration for product distribution.
- Allianthera (Suzhou) BiopharmaceuticalscoreStrategic partnership for development of novel AhR (aryl hydrocarbon receptor) Agonist for treatment of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.
- Kynos TherapeuticscoreAcquisition of Kynos Therapeutics, adding acute pancreatitis as a therapeutic focus and further strengthening development portfolio.
- Takeda and ZediramajorCollaboration and licensing agreement with Takeda and Zedira to develop first-in-class celiac disease therapy.
- ZediraminorPhase 2a proof of concept study of ZED1227 for treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Dr. Falk Pharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AbbVie: Global pharmaceutical major with significant gastroenterology exposure (Humira, Skyrizi, Rinvoq for IBD). Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same gastroenterology specialty space where Dr. Falk operates, though with a vastly larger portfolio and biologic focus vs. Dr. Falk's topical/small-molecule approach.
- Salix Pharmaceuticals: US-focused gastroenterology specialty pharmaceutical company (part of Bausch Health) with established IBD/IBS portfolio. Comparable as a GI specialty pharma pure-play, though serving primarily the US market that Dr. Falk does not directly address.
- Recordati: European specialty pharmaceutical group with gastroenterology and rare disease franchises. Comparable as a publicly-listed European mid-cap pharma with adjacent GI specialty exposure and similar distribution model across Europe.
- Gilead Sciences: Major biopharmaceutical company with hepatology franchise (viral hepatitis, PBC via CymaBay acquisition). Comparable as a competitor in liver disease therapeutics, with greater scale and biologic focus than Dr. Falk.
- Almirall: European specialty pharmaceutical company with gastroenterology (IBS, IBD) and dermatology franchises. Comparable as a European-based mid-sized specialty pharma with overlapping GI indications and similar geographic footprint.
- Allergan (now part of AbbVie): Historically a major specialty pharma with GI/IBS portfolio (Linzess, Viberzi) prior to AbbVie acquisition. Comparable in GI specialty pharmaceuticals across IBS and motility indications adjacent to Dr. Falk's gastroparesis work.
Direct peers
- Takeda Pharmaceutical: Major GI-focused pharmaceutical company with established gastroenterology franchise (Entyvio for IBD) and active co-development partner with Dr. Falk (Zedira celiac disease program). Directly comparable in gastroenterology specialty pharmaceuticals and global commercial reach.
- Ferring Pharmaceuticals: Privately-held research-driven pharmaceutical company headquartered in Switzerland with significant gastroenterology and hepatology portfolio. Highly comparable as a similarly-sized, family-controlled European pharma focused on GI/reproductive health.
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals: Specialty pharmaceutical company focused on liver diseases including PBC (Ocaliva) and NASH. Directly comparable in hepatology/cholestatic liver disease space, where Dr. Falk also markets Ursofalk for PBC and is developing norUDCA for PSC.
- Tillotts Pharma: Specialty pharmaceutical company focused exclusively on gastroenterology with IBD products (mesalazine-based therapies). Highly comparable as a mid-sized European GI specialty competitor with overlapping mesalazine franchise versus Dr. Falk's Salofalk.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dr. Falk Pharma social profiles
Digital presenceDr. Falk Pharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dr. Falk Pharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Dr. Falk Pharma subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Dr. Falk Pharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dr. Falk Pharma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dr. Falk Pharma
What does Dr. Falk Pharma do?
Dr. Falk Pharma is a research-based pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes prescription medicines for digestive and metabolic diseases. Its portfolio focuses on topically acting drugs delivered to specific functional segments of the gastrointestinal tract, including treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, microscopic colitis), eosinophilic esophagitis (Jorveza), and cholestatic liver diseases (Ursofalk for PBC). The company markets branded products such as Salofalk, Budenofalk, Jorveza, Ursofalk, Endofalk, Azafalk, and Mucofalk across Europe, Australia, and Canada.
Is Dr. Falk Pharma a public or private company?
Dr. Falk Pharma is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Dr. Falk Pharma founded?
Dr. Falk Pharma was founded in 1960. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Dr. Falk Pharma based?
Dr. Falk Pharma is headquartered in Freiburg Im Breisgau, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Dr. Falk Pharma make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Pharmaceutical Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are licensing and Development Agreements.
Who are Dr. Falk Pharma's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are AbbVie, Salix Pharmaceuticals, Recordati, Gilead Sciences, Almirall and Allergan (now part of AbbVie). Direct peers are Takeda Pharmaceutical, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Intercept Pharmaceuticals and Tillotts Pharma.
Does Dr. Falk Pharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dr. Falk Pharma.
What industry is Dr. Falk Pharma in?
Dr. Falk Pharma's product category is Gastroenterology & Hepatology Pharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIACAE, Gastroenterology Specialty Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAIAAAI, Gastroenterology & Hepatology Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 3254 and its SIC code is 2834.