Labfit

What Labfit does

Labfit is a Portuguese contract laboratory and regulatory consultancy, operated by the legal entity HPRD — Health Products Research and Development Lda and founded in September 2012 as a spinoff of the University of Beira Interior (UBI). The firm offers formulation development, physical-chemical, microbiological, toxicological and efficacy testing, safety and performance assessment, and regulatory consultancy across five regulated verticals — pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, medical devices, biocides, and textiles — serving brands, startups and established manufacturers. Its technical differentiation rests on a dense credential stack (ISO 9001, ISO 13485, NP4457, GLP recognition from INFARMED in 2016, GLP accreditation from the Portuguese Quality Institute in 2021, and INFARMED licensing for medicinal-cannabis R&D in 2024) plus sole-Portuguese membership in the EU-NETVAL European validation network for alternative in vitro methods hosted by the European Commission's JRC.

Core technology is wet-lab in vitro testing, including alternatives to animal testing compliant with 3R guidelines and EU cosmetics legislation; the R&D pipeline also covers probiotics and proprietary formulations (including patented genital-application prototypes and a PCT-filed fissure-healing product targeted for licensing). Under the HPRD parent, a second brand called Pharmapoli, launched in late 2019, provides contract manufacturing for cosmetics and medical devices, allowing Labfit to deliver a concept-to-shelf service proposition. The business model is B2B professional services priced per project on a quote basis, supplemented by managed-services revenue through Pharmapoli manufacturing and a nascent licensing-royalties stream from internally developed IP. The go-to-market is sales-led and direct, supported by trade-fair presence (CPHI Milan, Cosmetic 360 Paris, Cosmetorium Barcelona), industry publications, and an extensive regional R&D partnership network anchored in the UBI/UBIMEDICAL healthtech cluster in Covilhã.

Name

Labfit

Legal name

HPRD – Health Products Research and Development Lda

Website

https://labfit.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Labfit is a Portuguese GLP-accredited pharmaceutical laboratory and regulatory consultancy offering in vitro testing, R&D and product-development services to pharmaceutical, cosmetics, medical device, biocide and textile companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Laboratory and Regulatory Consultancy Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Medical Laboratories (621511)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAGAGAF

Analytical Development & QC Testing (Release/Stability/Potency)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Life Science Tools & Services (CRO/CDMO/Lab Services)/Biopharma Manufacturing Services (Biologics/Cell & Gene)

SECONDARYHLAJAIAM

Laboratory Quality Systems, Accreditation & Proficiency Testing Programs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Public Health Laboratories & Reference Testing Networks

Keywords

• Contract laboratory testing
• Pharmaceutical R&D services
• In vitro safety testing
• Regulatory consultancy cosmetics
• Medical device characterization

Headquarters

HQ city

Covilhã

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Testing Services: Provides microbiological, physical-chemical, toxicological and efficacy testing services to pharmaceutical, cosmetics, medical devices, biocides and textiles industries.
2. R&D Services: Research and development services for product development, formulation, characterization and regulatory support for clients.
3. Contract Manufacturing (via Pharmapoli): Through sister brand Pharmapoli, provides contract manufacturing for cosmetics and medical devices from concept to finished product.
4. Product Licensing: Patented products developed in-house are available for licensing to industrial partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Labfit is a Portuguese B2B laboratory and regulatory consultancy providing formulation development, physicochemical/microbiological/safety/efficacy laboratory testing, and regulatory support for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, medical device, biocide, and textile manufacturers. Through its sister brand Pharmapoli, it extends the offering into contract manufacturing, enabling clients to move from product concept to market-ready finished product within a single integrated partner.

Product overview

Labfit operates as the primary laboratory and R&D brand of HPRD Lda, offering end-to-end services from product concept to market-ready validation. The portfolio includes two main brands: Labfit (focused on laboratory testing, R&D, and regulatory consultancy) and Pharmapoli (covering contract manufacturing from concept to finished product in cosmetics and medical devices). Labfit's services span formulation development, laboratory testing, safety/performance assessment, and regulatory support, addressing sectors including pharmaceutics, medical devices, cosmetics, food supplements, veterinary products, traditional herbal medicines, probiotics, biocides, and textiles. The company also holds proprietary brands including Dermalstick for innovative pharmaceutical products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pharmapoli: Second HPRD brand launched at the end of 2019, covering the entire value chain from product conception to finished product manufacturing in cosmetics and medical devices through contract manufacturing.

Products and services

• Pharmapoli Contract Manufacturing Contract manufacturing services from concept to finished product for cosmetics and medical devices, operated as a sister brand of Labfit under HPRD Lda. Targets manufacturers and brands that need outsourced production capacity in compliance with GMP and ISO standards.
• Laboratory Testing Services Comprehensive laboratory testing services including physicochemical, microbiological, toxicological and efficacy testing for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, medical device, biocide, and textile products. Includes GLP-compliant studies and in vitro alternative methods aligned with EU 3R guidelines.
• R&D and Formulation Development Research and development services including formulation, product development, characterization, and customized formulation tailored to client brand, covering pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, medical devices, biocides, biomaterials, probiotics, and traditional herbal medicines.
• Safety & Performance Assessment Safety testing and performance evaluation services ensuring products meet quality and regulatory standards, including biocompatibility testing for medical devices and antimicrobial claims verification for textiles.
• Regulatory Consultancy Regulatory consultancy services to help clients navigate compliance requirements across pharmaceutical, cosmetic, medical device, biocide, and medicinal cannabis product categories, including INFARMED-aligned documentation support.
• Medicinal Cannabis R&D Services R&D services for medicinal cannabis products, including analytical method development/validation, in vitro efficacy and safety assessment, and final product development, delivered under INFARMED licensing for controlled substances.
• Labfit Brand (Core Brand Identity) Registered brand name of HPRD Lda used to identify and communicate the laboratory and regulatory consultancy activities. Brand is registered at national level in Portugal.
• Patented Genital Application Products (Licensing) Patented prototypes of genital application products developed by Labfit R&D, available for licensing to industrial partners.
• Fissure Healing PCT Patent (Licensing) Patent protection under PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) for an innovative fissure healing product developed using plant extracts, aimed at international licensing of industrial property.

Quantifiable outcome

• COTEC Innovative Status 2026 recognition
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PharmapolicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmapoli is the second brand of HPRD, appearing at end of 2019 to cover the entire value chain from conception to production of finished products in cosmetics and medical devices through contract manufacturing. While Labfit focuses on R&D and laboratory services, Pharmapoli handles manufacturing.
• HealthTechPortugal ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium between HealthTechLisboa and HPRD Lda positioning as driving force for innovation and technological/digital development in health sector. Provides infrastructure for SMEs and startups to test and validate solutions in healthcare, medical devices, health technology and cosmetics. Labfit is a partner company in the Healthtechportugal #testbed network.
• CICS-UBI (Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner from University of Beira Interior. Labfit was created in 2012 by two pharmaceutical researchers from CICS-UBI. Co-promoter in INOVEP project and other collaborative R&D initiatives.
• ESA-IPCB (Escola Superior Agrária do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-promoter in INOVEP project focused on innovation with plant extracts. Provides expertise in aromatic and medicinal plants characterization.
• UBIMEDICALcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation hub in Covilhã where Labfit has its headquarters. Maintains close relationship with University of Beira Interior knowledge base.
• AEBBminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation mentioned as network partner in the ecosystem.
• CHCB (Centro Hospitalar da Cova da Beira)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital center mentioned as network partner for healthcare collaboration.
• BlueClinicalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical research organization mentioned as network partner.
• ApomedicaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner in the Labfit ecosystem.
• FemicareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner in the Labfit ecosystem.
• UBI (Universidade da Beira Interior)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity spinoff relationship. Labfit was created from UBI research and maintains close collaboration for R&D activities.
• UBIMedicalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth technology incubator mentioned as network partner.
• AemiteqminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner in the Labfit ecosystem.
• Health ClusterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth cluster network partner.
• COOP4PAM (Cooperation for Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject cooperation focused on aromatic and medicinal plants sector.
• BIO-ALLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge alliance for higher education on biohealth entrepreneurship, accelerating innovation and entrepreneurial processes in BIOHEALTH sector.
• DREAM Project (UT Austin Portugal Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrug delivery nanosystem for HPV infection therapy nanotechnologies - exploratory research in nanotechnology for HPV treatment.
• VWRminorOthersSupplier partner for laboratory equipment and consumables.
• PatentreeminorOthersSupplier partner for patent-related services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Scientific: Global leader in bioanalytical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics testing services with a network of GLP/GMP laboratories. Highly comparable as a broad incumbent offering overlapping analytical testing, safety/efficacy assays and regulatory support that Labfit also delivers, but at significantly larger scale and geographic reach.
• SGS: World-leading testing, inspection and certification company with dedicated life-sciences and cosmetics laboratory services. Comparable to Labfit as a broad incumbent delivering physical-chemical, microbiological and toxicological testing along with regulatory guidance, but serving global clients across many industries.
• Intertek: Global quality and assurance provider with a sizeable life-sciences and consumer-products testing practice. Overlaps with Labfit's analytical, microbiological and safety testing offerings for pharmaceutical, cosmetics and medical-device clients, operating at much broader scope.
• Charles River Laboratories: Major preclinical CRO providing GLP-compliant safety assessment, in vitro services and biopharma product development support. Comparable to Labfit's GLP-certified, in vitro-focused testing and R&D services for pharmaceutical and medical-device customers, but operating globally with full discovery-to-manufacturing coverage.
• WuXi AppTec: Large global CRO/CDMO providing analytical testing, formulation development, safety assessment and manufacturing services. Overlaps with Labfit's R&D, in vitro safety/QC testing and contract-manufacturing (via Pharmapoli) capabilities, but at vastly larger scale and with a broader service catalogue.

Regional players

• Hovione: Portuguese-headquartered CDMO offering integrated API development, formulation, analytical services and GMP manufacturing for pharma customers. Comparable to Labfit as a fellow Portuguese-rooted pharmaceutical services firm with overlapping analytical, formulation and regulatory expertise, but Hovione is a much larger, internationally established player.
• BlueClinical: Portuguese CRO providing clinical research and biopharma development services. Named as a network partner of Labfit and operates in a directly adjacent stage of the pharmaceutical development value chain (human studies vs Labfit's pre-clinical/lab work), making it a useful regional comparable for Portugal-rooted life-science services SMEs.
• Laboratórios Basi: Portuguese pharmaceutical contract manufacturer and developer of injectable and sterile products. Comparable to Labfit's contract-manufacturing arm (Pharmapoli) and to its pharmaceutical R&D offering, sharing a similar Portugal-anchored, EU-regulated services profile.

Emerging players

• Crelux: European pre-clinical CRO specialising in protein production, biophysical characterisation and early-stage drug discovery services. Comparable to Labfit's R&D, analytical characterisation and biopharmaceutical-adjacent work, with similar focus on regulated lab services for innovative therapeutics.
• Pharmalex: European regulatory and pharmacovigilance consultancy supporting pharma, biotech and medical-device companies with market authorisation. Comparable to Labfit's regulatory-support service module and overlap with cosmetics/medical-device compliance work, as a focused, mid-sized European regulatory services peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/labfit_hprd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/labfit-hprd-lda

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 Labfit