Stiefel
Stiefel is a dermatology-focused pharmaceutical company developing and commercializing prescription and consumer skin care products. Founded in 1847 and headquartered in Raleigh, it has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of GSK plc since 2016, serving dermatologists, healthcare providers, and downstream pharmacy and consumer channels.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1847
- HeadquartersRaleigh, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Stiefel does
Stiefel Laboratories is a dermatology-focused pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes products for the treatment of skin conditions. Founded in 1847, the company is one of the longest continuously operating dermatology businesses globally, with a portfolio spanning prescription therapies, consumer skincare, and related skin science products. Its products are sold to dermatologists, healthcare providers, and downstream pharmacy and consumer channels, supporting patients with conditions ranging from acne and eczema to more severe dermatological diseases.
Since 2016, Stiefel has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of GSK plc, the global pharmaceutical group listed on the LSE and NYSE. The company is headquartered in Raleigh, United States, and operates with a workforce in the 5,001–10,000 range. Under GSK ownership, Stiefel's dermatology franchise is integrated into the parent's broader specialty and pharmaceutical portfolio, gaining access to global R&D infrastructure, regulatory expertise, and commercial reach. Prior to the GSK acquisition, Stiefel had pursued an inorganic growth strategy, acquiring Connetics in 2006 and Barrier Therapeutics in 2008 to expand its therapeutic pipeline and product breadth.
The underlying revenue mechanics of Stiefel operate as a typical specialty pharmaceutical model: product sales through prescription and consumer channels, protected by drug approvals, patents, and physician relationships built over its multi-century heritage. The company does not appear to operate a direct-to-consumer technology platform, and the available evidence does not indicate a software, SaaS, or AI-driven component to its product offering. As a subsidiary, Stiefel's financial results are reported within GSK's broader pharmaceutical segment, and standalone revenue, customer concentration, and product-level performance are not separately disclosed in the available input.
Stiefel firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stiefel
- Legal name
- Stiefel Laboratories
- Website
- https://stiefel.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1847
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Stiefel is a dermatology-focused pharmaceutical company developing and commercializing prescription and consumer skin care products. Founded in 1847 and headquartered in Raleigh, it has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of GSK plc since 2016, serving dermatologists, healthcare providers, and downstream pharmacy and consumer channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stiefel industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Dermatology Pharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dermatology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Dermocosmetics & Medical-Grade Skincare (CRABAAAF), Dermatology OTC & Skin Health (Acne Treatments, Eczema/Psoriasis OTC, Antifungals, Wart Removal) (CRADAMAF)
Keywords
Where Stiefel is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Raleigh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Stiefel business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Stiefel product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stiefel develops, manufactures, and commercializes prescription dermatology and skin science products for the treatment of skin conditions. Operating as the dedicated dermatology arm of GSK plc, it produces pharmaceutical-grade skin therapeutics that are prescribed by dermatologists and dispensed through pharmacies and healthcare institutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Stiefel
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
Stiefel technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Stiefel partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves3 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Stiefel competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Almirall: European dermatology-focused specialty pharma. Directly comparable as a mid-size dermatology pure-play with prescription products across major skin conditions and active pipeline development.
- LEO Pharma: Specialty dermatology pharmaceutical company focused on psoriasis, eczema, and skin infections. Comparable as a dermatology-only player with a similar Rx-heavy portfolio and global commercial footprint.
- Galderma: Pure-play dermatology company with prescription and consumer skincare portfolios across acne, rosacea, and aesthetic indications. Most directly comparable to Stiefel as a global dermatology specialty company with both Rx and OTC/consumer presence.
Emerging players
- Dermavant Sciences: Dermatology-focused biotech (a Roivant company) developing topical therapies for inflammatory skin conditions. Comparable as a focused emerging dermatology player with similar Rx product development model.
- Arcutis Biotherapeutics: Late-stage dermatology biotech with approved products in plaque psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Comparable as a focused dermatology player pursuing similar inflammatory skin disease indications.
- Vyne Therapeutics (formerly Foamix Pharmaceuticals): Smaller dermatology specialty company focused on inflammatory skin conditions (e.g., AMZEEQ, ZILXI). Comparable as a dermatology-focused emerging pharma pursuing similar acne and inflammatory derm indications.
Broad incumbents
- Organon & Co. Women's health-focused pharma spun from Merck that also holds dermatology assets. Comparable as a specialty pharma with dermatology franchise overlap, though broader therapeutic focus.
- Bayer (Consumer Health / Dermatology): Diversified life sciences company with a significant dermatology/consumer skincare franchise (e.g., Bepanthen, Canesten). Comparable for Stiefel's OTC and consumer dermatology business, though Bayer operates broadly beyond skin health.
- AbbVie (Allergan Aesthetics): Diversified pharma with a major dermatology and aesthetics presence post-Allergan acquisition (e.g., Botox, Juvederm, Skyrizi). Comparable in medical dermatology and aesthetics-adjacent categories.
- Pfizer (Dermatology portfolio): Large diversified pharma with historical dermatology assets. Comparable as a broad incumbent that has operated in dermatology, though it has periodically divested non-core dermatology units.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Stiefel social profiles
Digital presenceStiefel financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stiefel leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Stiefel funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stiefel M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Stiefel
What does Stiefel do?
Stiefel develops, manufactures, and commercializes prescription dermatology and skin science products for the treatment of skin conditions. Operating as the dedicated dermatology arm of GSK plc, it produces pharmaceutical-grade skin therapeutics that are prescribed by dermatologists and dispensed through pharmacies and healthcare institutions.
Is Stiefel a public or private company?
Stiefel is a public company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Stiefel founded?
Stiefel was founded in 1847. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Stiefel based?
Stiefel is headquartered in Raleigh, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Stiefel's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Almirall, LEO Pharma and Galderma. Emerging players are Dermavant Sciences, Arcutis Biotherapeutics and Vyne Therapeutics (formerly Foamix Pharmaceuticals). Broad incumbents are Organon & Co., Bayer (Consumer Health / Dermatology), AbbVie (Allergan Aesthetics) and Pfizer (Dermatology portfolio).
Does Stiefel have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stiefel.
What industry is Stiefel in?
Stiefel's product category is Dermatology Pharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIACAL, Dermatology Specialty Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of CRABAAAF, Dermocosmetics & Medical-Grade Skincare. Its NAICS code is 3254 and its SIC code is 2844.