What Synthon does

Synthon is a Netherlands-headquartered pharmaceutical company specializing in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of complex generic medicines. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Nijmegen, Synthon operates primarily as a Business-to-Business platform for the global generics industry, out-licensing and supplying its products to pharmaceutical partners worldwide rather than building consumer-facing brands — with limited exceptions in Mexico and Chile where it commercializes directly under the Synthon brand. The company is privately held under majority ownership of Goldman Sachs Alternatives, which acquired the stake from BC Partners in June 2025 in a transaction valuing the company at approximately €2 billion.

Name

Synthon

Legal name

Synthon International Holding B.V.

Website

https://synthon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Synthon is a Dutch pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and out-licenses complex generic medicines to global pharmaceutical partners across six countries, with a portfolio of over 50 products spanning oncology, CNS, and cardiovascular therapeutics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Generic Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (424210)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Small-Molecule Generics (Branded/Unbranded) (HLAIABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Contract Development & Manufacturing for Generics (CDMO/CMO) (HLAIABAI), Generic APIs & Intermediates (Active Ingredients) (HLAIABAG), Generic ANDA/Regulatory Affairs & Submissions (HLAIABAJ)

Keywords

• Complex generic medicines
• Active pharmaceutical ingredients
• Pharmaceutical out-licensing
• Drug product manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nijmegen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Generic medicines development and manufacturing: Synthon develops, manufactures, and commercializes complex generic pharmaceuticals globally. The company operates through a B2B model, serving as a development engine for the generics industry by providing partners with high-quality generic medicines.
2. Direct-to-market sales: In select markets such as Mexico and Chile, Synthon increases access to affordable medicines under the Synthon brand through direct-to-market sales operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Synthon develops, manufactures, and commercializes complex generic pharmaceuticals globally, operating primarily as a B2B development engine that out-licenses and supplies generic medicines to pharmaceutical partners. Its portfolio spans more than 50 products across oncology, central nervous system, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, urology, allergy, surgery-support, and systemic therapeutic areas, supported by vertically integrated API and drug-product manufacturing across Europe and Latin America. In select markets (Mexico, Chile), Synthon also sells directly under its own brand.

Product overview

Synthon is a leading pharmaceutical company specialized in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of complex generic pharmaceuticals globally. The company's product portfolio comprises over 50 generic medicines spanning multiple therapeutic areas including Oncology (Abiraterone, Anagrelide, Anastrozole, Bendamustine, Bicalutamide, Bortezomib, Dasatinib, Erlotinib, Everolimus, Exemestane, Gefitinib, Imatinib, Lenalidomide, Letrozole, Pemetrexed, Pomalidomide, Sunitinib, Zoledronic Acid), Central Nervous System (Aripiprazole, Clozapine, Dimethyl Fumarate, Donepezil, Fingolimod, Fluvoxamine, Glatiramer, Memantine, Paroxetine, Rasagiline, Zolpidem, Zopiclone), Cardiovascular (Bisoprolol, Eltrombopag, Eplerenone, Ivabradine, Simvastatin), Musculoskeletal System (Celecoxib, Etoricoxib, Ibandronate), Urology (Doxazosin, Sevelamer, Solifenacin-Tamsulosin, Tadalafil, Tamsulosin), Allergy (Levocetirizine, Montelukast), Surgery Support (Flumazenil, Sugammadex), and Systemic conditions (Cinacalcet, Deferasirox, Voriconazole). The company operates with a Business-to-Business model, primarily serving as a development engine and partner for pharmaceutical companies seeking complex generic medicines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Abiraterone

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.

• Zydus LifesciencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Exclusive licensing and supply agreement for Ozanimod Capsules (generic version of ZEPOSIA) for the U.S. market. Synthon has a pending abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) seeking approval for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis treatment.
• Zydus Lifesciences (505(b)(2) partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Exclusive development, licensing, supply and commercialization agreement for a novel 505(b)(2) oncology product for the U.S. market.
• Kuehne+NagelminorOthers · 1 July 2024Logistics partnership for expanded distribution services in Chile. Kuehne+Nagel provides distribution services to support Synthon's operations in the region.
• SAJA PharmaceuticalsstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 December 2022Partnership with Saudi-based SAJA to commercialize several products in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. SAJA is a joint venture between Tamer Industries and Japanese pharmaceutical companies Daiichi Sankyo and Astellas Pharma.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries: World's largest generic pharmaceutical manufacturer with broad small-molecule generics portfolio and API manufacturing. Direct competitor in complex generics across oncology, CNS, and cardiovascular categories where Synthon also competes, with overlapping B2B supply and out-licensing models.
• Apotex: Canadian privately-held generic pharmaceutical manufacturer with vertically integrated API and finished-dose capabilities across oncology, CNS, and cardiovascular. Comparable as a privately-held, vertically integrated complex generics developer with significant out-licensing activity.
• Viatris: Formed from Mylan-Upjohn merger, Viatris is a major global generics player with significant complex generics, biosimilars, and API exposure. Comparable product breadth across oncology, CNS, and cardiovascular, with global commercial reach that exceeds Synthon's direct footprint.
• Hikma Pharmaceuticals: Jordan-headquartered specialty generic and injectable pharmaceutical manufacturer with significant U.S. and MENA presence. Comparable to Synthon's injectable complex generics portfolio (Bortezomib, Bendamustine, Pemetrexed) and its MENA distribution via SAJA.
• Lupin Limited: India-based global pharmaceutical company with a complex generics and specialty pipeline, including injectables and inhalation products. Comparable to Synthon's complex generics development engine and out-licensing approach in regulated markets.
• Dr. Reddy's Laboratories: India-headquartered integrated pharmaceutical company with a strong complex generics portfolio, including injectables and biosimilars, and significant U.S. out-licensing and partnership activity. Comparable on technical complexity, vertical integration, and B2B commercial model.
• Aurobindo Pharma: Indian generic pharmaceutical manufacturer with vertically integrated API-to-finished-product operations and a broad complex generics portfolio. Comparable on manufacturing scale, cost competitiveness, and broad therapeutic-area generics coverage overlapping with Synthon's portfolio.
• Stada Arzneimittel: European-headquartered generics and specialty pharma group, currently owned by Bain Capital and Cinven. Closely comparable to Synthon as a PE-owned complex generics platform with a B2B/partnership commercialization model and a focus on differentiated generics across multiple therapeutic areas.
• Sandoz: Novartis-spin global generics and biosimilars leader with vertically integrated manufacturing and a strong complex generics pipeline. Closely comparable business model to Synthon with European heritage, broad therapeutic-area coverage, and focus on hard-to-make generics and biosimilars.

Emerging players

• Alvotech: Iceland-based biosimilars developer with vertically integrated manufacturing focused on complex biologics. Comparable to Synthon as a vertically integrated complex-medicines platform leveraging technical barriers and partner-led commercialization in regulated markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/35462
• Xx.com/Synthon
• Facebookfacebook.com/Synthonworldwide

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Synthon