What LIF does

LIF (Läkemedelsindustriföreningen), branded as Lif, is the Swedish trade association for research-based pharmaceutical companies, representing approximately 90 members that collectively account for roughly 95% of pharmaceuticals sold in Sweden. Founded to advocate for the Swedish pharmaceutical industry and improve patient access to innovative medicines, LIF operates as both a policy advocate and a digital information provider. Its governance is member-driven, and it shares offices with ASCRO at Sveavägen 63 in Stockholm, employing approximately 30 staff across leadership, communication, digital services, strategy, sustainability, and operations.

The association's flagship technology asset is Fass, a digital drug information service launched in print form in 1966 and moved to the web in 2001. Fass catalogues approximately 20,000 pharmaceutical products and 4,500 active substances, is integrated with Swedish healthcare decision support systems, electronic medical records, and pharmacy prescription dispensing workflows, and attracts over 4 million monthly visits, making it Sweden's second most-used health information website. The platform is complemented by Patient-Fass, Fass Vet (veterinary), Röda webben, and HiKS (Hitta Kliniska Studier), a clinical trial finder. Beyond digital services, LIF develops industry ethical standards, runs an 18-month trainee program, and produces policy initiatives such as a vaccination action plan and a sustainability manifesto.

LIF funds its operations primarily through membership fees of 0.07% of approved pharmaceutical and vaccine turnover and service fees of 0.034% of turnover administered through its wholly owned service entity Lif Service AB. Minimum fees scale with member company size, ranging from SEK 7,000 for sub-1 MSEK companies to SEK 67,800 for those between 10–97 MSEK, with corresponding minimums on service fees. Membership in EFPIA, AESGP, IFPMA, and Svenskt Näringsliv extends its influence into EU and international pharmaceutical policy.

Name

LIF

Legal name

Läkemedelsindustriföreningen

Website

https://lif.se

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LIF (Läkemedelsindustriföreningen) is the Swedish trade association for ~90 research-based pharmaceutical companies covering ~95% of Swedish pharma sales. It operates the Fass drug information database and advocates for industry policy, pricing, and patient access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Lif generates revenue through membership fees calculated as 0.07% of approved pharmaceuticals and vaccines sold in Sweden. Companies with turnover of 1 MSEK or less pay 7,000 SEK; companies with 1-10 MSEK turnover pay 22,500 SEK; companies with 10-97 MSEK pay 67,800 SEK.
2. Service Fees: Lif Service AB provides services including Fass database operations and compliance with market ethical regulations. Service fees calculated as 0.034% of pharmaceutical turnover, with minimum fees ranging from 3,000 SEK to 33,000 SEK based on company size.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LIF (Läkemedelsindustriföreningen) is the Swedish trade association for research-based pharmaceutical companies, representing approximately 90 member companies that account for around 95% of pharmaceuticals sold in Sweden. The organization delivers industry advocacy, policy work, ethical standards, and operates the Fass digital drug information service, which provides quality-assured information on approximately 20,000 pharmaceutical products and 4,500 substances to healthcare professionals, pharmacies, patients, and animal owners.

Product overview

LIF operates as the Swedish pharmaceutical industry association representing approximately 90 research-based pharmaceutical companies. The organization's primary digital product portfolio consists of Fass, Sweden's most widely used drug information platform (after 1177) with over 4 million monthly visits, which includes specialized sub-brands Patient-Fass and Fass Vet. LIF also manages Röda webben and HiKS (Hitta Kliniska Studier) as additional digital services. Beyond digital products, LIF offers professional development through its Trainee Program and develops policy initiatives such as the Vaccination Action Plan. LIF does not manufacture pharmaceutical products but serves as the industry representative body providing information services, advocacy, and member support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fass: Quality-assured drug information service providing information about medicines to the public, healthcare professionals, pharmacies, and animal owners. Contains information about 20,000 medicines and 4,500 substances. Has over 4 million visits monthly making it Sweden's second most used health information website.
• Fass Vet
• Patient-Fass
• Vaccinationer genom hela livet
• Lifs hållbarhetsmanifest
• Färdplan för en fossilfri läkemedelsbransch
• Lifs traineeprogram

Products and services

• Fass Sweden's leading digital drug information service providing healthcare professionals, pharmacies, patients, and animal owners with quality-assured information about approximately 20,000 medications and 4,500 substances, with over 4 million monthly visits.
• Röda webben A web-based service providing drug-related information, managed as part of LIF's digital services portfolio alongside Fass.
• HiKS (Hitta Kliniska Studier) A clinical trial finder service helping patients and healthcare professionals locate ongoing clinical studies in Sweden.
• Lifs Traineeprogram An 18-month trainee program for recent graduates providing comprehensive exposure to the pharmaceutical sector, regulatory frameworks, pharmaceutical market operations, and research and life science, with placements across LIF's expert groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4 million monthly visits to Fass.se
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLif actively participates in EFPIA, the European industry federation for research-based pharmaceutical companies. This membership enables Lif to influence EU pharmaceutical legislation and engage in pan-European policy discussions.
• AESGPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLif maintains membership in AESGP, the European consumer health products association, for collaboration on matters affecting the pharmaceutical and consumer health sectors.
• IFPMAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLif participates in IFPMA, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations, engaging in global pharmaceutical industry discussions.
• Svenskt NäringslivcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLif is a member of Svenskt Näringsliv (Confederation of Swedish Enterprise), enabling collaboration on business policy and competitiveness issues at the national level.
• ASCROcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASCRO is the industry organization for CRO (Contract Research Organization) companies and shares offices with Lif at Sveavägen 63. ASCRO members are also associated members of Lif.
• IMM (Institutet mot Mutor)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLif is a partner organization to IMM (Institute Against Corruption), demonstrating commitment to ethical standards in the pharmaceutical industry.
• European pharmaceutical companies (member organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLif facilitates exchange with European pharmaceutical industry associations through EFPIA. Trainees may have opportunities to visit EFPIA in Brussels and member companies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Farmindustria: Farmindustria is the Italian pharmaceutical industry trade association representing research-based pharma companies in Italy. It is a direct functional equivalent of LIF for the Italian national market.
• Innovative Medicines Canada: Innovative Medicines Canada is the national association representing Canada's research-based pharmaceutical companies. It performs the same advocacy, policy, and member services role as LIF for the Canadian market.
• JPMA (Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association): JPMA is the Japanese national pharmaceutical manufacturers association representing research-based pharma companies. It is a direct functional peer of LIF operating in the Japanese market with similar advocacy and member service functions.
• vfa (Verband forschender Arzneimittelhersteller): vfa is the German research-based pharmaceutical industry association, representing the same type of member companies as LIF and providing analogous advocacy and policy services for the German market.
• PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America): PhRMA is the US national trade association for research-based pharmaceutical companies. It is the largest direct functional equivalent of LIF globally, performing advocacy, policy influence, and member services for US-based pharma.
• LEEM (Les Entreprises du Médicament): LEEM is the French pharmaceutical industry association serving research-based drug companies. It performs the equivalent national advocacy and member representation role as LIF in Sweden.
• Medicines Australia: Medicines Australia is the Australian national pharmaceutical industry association representing research-based pharma companies. It is functionally equivalent to LIF but operating in the Australian market.
• ABPI (Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry): ABPI is the UK national trade association for research-based pharmaceutical companies, performing the same advocacy, policy, and member services role as LIF but for the UK market. Directly comparable in business model and member composition.

Broad incumbents

• IFPMA (International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations): IFPMA is the global pharmaceutical industry federation. LIF is a member of IFPMA, which performs a broader international advocacy and policy coordination role compared to LIF's Sweden-specific focus.
• EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations): EFPIA is the pan-European trade association for research-based pharmaceutical companies. LIF is a member of EFPIA, and EFPIA performs an analogous advocacy and policy function but at the broader EU level rather than Sweden-specific.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lifse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lif-de-forskande-lakemedelsforetagen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 LIF