GL Pharma

What GL Pharma does

GL Pharma (G.L. Pharma GmbH) is an Austrian pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes branded and generic medicines for severe and chronic conditions. Founded from the 2009 merger of Lannacher Heilmittel and Gerot Pharmazeutika (both dating to 1947-48), the company has been family-owned (Bartenstein family) since 1966 and remains privately held with approximately 1,200 employees globally. Its product portfolio spans CNS (epilepsy, pain, opioid substitution therapy, depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson's, ADHD, Alzheimer's), cardiovascular, urology, oncology, and rare disease (Gaucher, Niemann-Pick type C) therapies, with named brands such as Convulex, Bupretec, Bupensanduo, Oxypro, Metagla, Pregamid, and Trigelan.

The company operates two specialized Austrian manufacturing sites: Lannach/Graz (approximately 30,000 sqm, 4.7 billion solid dosage units per year including film-coated tablets, capsules, and dragees using wet granulation, fluidized bed drying, and film coating technologies) and Vienna (approximately 10,000 sqm, 250 million liquid and sterile units per year including ampoules, injection vials, and oral solutions). Manufacturing capacity was doubled at Lannach in 2020. GL Pharma maintains approximately 1,500 product registrations worldwide, handles up to 100 regulatory procedures annually, and holds patents and patent applications generated by an internal IP team. Regulatory expertise covers EU and CIS procedures.

GL Pharma generates revenue primarily through one-time product sales of branded and generic pharmaceuticals to wholesalers, pharmacists, and healthcare professionals, complemented by licensing and documentation arrangements with international partners. It reaches more than 50 countries through 15 European distribution structures, a Mexican subsidiary, and licensing partnerships (including a 2012 strategic partnership with Valeant Pharmaceuticals for Russia and CIS). Named end-customer relationships include the Austrian healthcare sector and the UK NHS. Distribution relies on a traditional sales-led motion with field presence in core European markets, supported by trade show participation (CPhI, euroPLX, Arab Health, DCAT) and a DocCheck-authenticated portal for physicians and pharmacists.

Name

GL Pharma

Legal name

G.L. Pharma GmbH

Website

https://gl-pharma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

G.L. Pharma GmbH is an Austrian, family-owned pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes branded and generic medicines across CNS, cardiovascular, urology, oncology, and opioid substitution therapy, serving healthcare systems in 50+ countries via European subsidiaries and licensing partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Branded and Generic Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (424210), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (32541)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Care Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Generic Hospital & Institutional Products (HLAIABAL), Specialty Pharmaceutical Distributors (HLAIAJAB)

Keywords

• Branded pharmaceuticals
• Generic medicines
• CNS therapeutics
• Opioid substitution therapy
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Lannach

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Branded Pharmaceuticals: Development, production, and commercialization of unique brand-name pharmaceutical products covering CNS, cardiovascular, urology, oncology, and opioid substitution therapy areas.
2. Generic Pharmaceuticals: Production and sale of generic medicines covering the same therapeutic areas, distributed internationally through subsidiaries and licensing partners.
3. Licensing and Documentation: Offering access to research and development expertise, regulatory management, and marketing through licensing arrangements, including product documentation licensing to partners.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GL Pharma develops, manufactures, and commercializes branded and generic pharmaceutical products for the treatment of severe and chronic conditions across central nervous system, cardiovascular, urology, oncology, and opioid substitution therapy indications. The company operates two Austrian manufacturing sites producing solid oral dosage forms (Lannach) and sterile liquid/semi-solid dosage forms (Vienna), and markets the resulting medicines across more than 50 countries through its own European subsidiaries and international licensing partners.

Product overview

GL Pharma (G.L. Pharma GmbH) is an Austrian pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercialises branded and generic medicines for severe and chronic conditions. The product portfolio spans multiple therapeutic areas organised around three core business segments: Cardiovascular System (e.g., Gerasa/ASA for antithrombosis, Ferretab comp. for iron/folic deficiency), Central Nervous System (e.g., Convulex/valproate for epilepsy, Bupretec/buprenorphine for pain, Bupensanduo for opioid dependency, Metagla/methadone for substitution therapy, Pregamid/pregabalin for neuropathic pain, Neurotop retard/carbamazepine, Topilex/topiramate, Trelema/lacosamide, Aricogan/aripiprazole for schizophrenia/bipolar, Hedonin XR/quetiapine, Paroxetin/SSRI antidepressant, Agomelatine, Esogno/zolpidem, Gerodorm/cinolazepam for insomnia, Atofab/atomoxetine for ADHD, Memolan/memantine for Alzheimer's), and Urology/Oncology/Opioid Substitution (e.g., Geroprostan/tamsulosin and Dutalan/dutasteride for BPH, Aglandin/dutasteride+tamsulosin combination, Bicagelan/bicalutamide for prostate cancer, Urokur/solifenacin for overactive bladder, Silfeldrem/sildenafil and Gerocilan/tadalafil for erectile dysfunction, Oxypro/oxycodone and Oxycomp/oxycodone+naloxone, Metamilan/metamizole, Tradocomp/tramadol+paracetamol, Submena/fentanyl for pain, Miglustat for Gaucher disease and Niemann-Pick disease, Trigelan/levodopa+carbidopa+entacapone and Rasigerolan/rasagiline for Parkinson's). Manufacturing is centred at two Austrian sites: Lannach/Graz (solid dosage forms — film-coated tablets, capsules, dragées; 4.7 billion units/year) and Vienna (liquid/sterile forms — ampoules, injection vials, oral solutions; 250 million units/year). The company markets products in more than 50 countries through subsidiaries and licensing partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GL Pharma: Primary operating brand for pharmaceutical products including branded and generic medicines

Products and services

• Convulex (valproate sodium) Brand (prescription) antiepileptic medicine containing valproate sodium, indicated for the treatment of general and focal seizures and for the treatment of manic episodes in bipolar disorder. Marketed by GL Pharma across its European markets.
• Bupretec (buprenorphine transdermal patch) Brand (prescription) transdermal analgesic patch containing buprenorphine, indicated for moderate to severe cancer pain and severe pain not responsive to other analgesics, acting on the central nervous system for up to 4 days per patch.
• Bupensanduo (buprenorphine/naloxone) Brand (prescription) combination product indicated for the treatment of opioid dependence in adults and adolescents over 15 years receiving medical, social and psychotherapeutic care.
• Oxypro (oxycodone prolonged-release tablets) Brand (prescription) strong opioid analgesic indicated for the treatment of severe pain requiring treatment with opioid painkillers.
• Oxycomp (oxycodone/naloxone prolonged-release tablets) Brand (prescription) combination of oxycodone with the opioid antagonist naloxone indicated for severe pain, designed to counteract opioid-induced constipation by blocking intestinal opioid receptors.
• Metagla (methadone) Brand (prescription) oral methadone product indicated for oral maintenance treatment of opioid addiction in adults, suppressing withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
• Pregamid (pregabalin) Brand (prescription) medicine in the class for neuropathic pain, epilepsy and generalised anxiety disorder in adults, used across multiple CNS indications.
• Trigelan (levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone) Brand (prescription) film-coated tablet combining levodopa, carbidopa and entacapone for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, designed to improve the antiparkinsonian effects of levodopa.
• Rasigerolan (rasagiline) Brand (prescription) Parkinson's disease therapy used to increase and maintain dopamine levels in the brain, administered in adults with or without levodopa.
• Trelema (lacosamide) Brand (prescription) antiepileptic indicated as monotherapy and adjunctive therapy for partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation in adults, adolescents and children from 4 years of age with epilepsy.
• Neurotop retard (carbamazepine) Brand (prescription) antiepileptic containing carbamazepine used for treatment of various forms of epileptic seizures, acute mania, bipolar disorder prophylaxis, trigeminal neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy and prevention of cerebral seizures in alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
• Petinimid (ethosuximide) Brand (prescription) antiepileptic used for the treatment of petit mal (absence) seizures, including in mixed forms of epilepsy to address the petit mal component.
• Paroxetin G.L. Pharma (paroxetine SSRI) Brand (prescription) selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant indicated for major depressive episodes, OCD, panic disorder, social anxiety, generalised anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Esogno (zolpidem) Brand (prescription) medicine indicated for the short-duration treatment of insomnia in adults.
• Topilex (topiramate) Brand (prescription) antiepileptic indicated as monotherapy for partial and primary generalised tonic-clonic seizures and as adjunctive therapy for focal seizures, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and migraine prophylaxis.
• Hedonin XR (quetiapine) Brand (prescription) antipsychotic indicated for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic and depressive episodes) and as adjunctive treatment for major depressive episodes.
• Aricogan (aripiprazole) Brand (prescription) antipsychotic for treatment of schizophrenia in adults and adolescents from 15 years, and for moderate to severe manic episodes in bipolar I disorder.
• Atofab (atomoxetine) Brand (prescription) ADHD medicine for adults, adolescents and children from 6 years of age, used as part of a comprehensive treatment programme including non-drug interventions.
• Memolan (memantine) Brand (prescription) anti-dementia medicine for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.
• Geroprostan (tamsulosin) Brand (prescription) alpha-1A receptor blocker that relaxes prostate and urethral muscles, prescribed for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) complications in men.
• Aglandin (dutasteride/tamsulosin) Brand (prescription) combination of a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor and an alpha-blocker for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, reducing prostate size and improving urinary flow.
• Bicagelan (bicalutamide) Brand (prescription) antiandrogen used for treatment of advanced prostate cancer in combination with LHRH analogue therapy or surgical castration.
• Silfeldrem (sildenafil) Brand (prescription) PDE-5 inhibitor used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in adult men, requiring sexual stimulation to be effective.
• Gerocilan (tadalafil) Brand (prescription) PDE-5 inhibitor indicated for erectile dysfunction in adult men, showing improvement in achieving and maintaining erection.
• Gerasa (acetylsalicylic acid gastroresistant tablets) Brand (prescription/OTC) acetylsalicylic acid product in gastroresistant film-coated tablet form used for reduction of heart attack risk in angina patients, secondary prevention after myocardial infarction, thrombosis prophylaxis after vascular surgery, and cardiovascular event prevention in diabetes patients.
• Neuromultivit (vitamins B1, B6, B12) Brand (prescription) combination of B vitamins used for treatment of nervous system diseases caused by vitamin B deficiency, supporting natural nerve tissue healing.
• Licensing of Pharmaceutical Dossiers and Products Licensing offering that provides international partners with access to GL Pharma's research and development expertise, regulatory management, and marketing via licensing arrangements, including product documentation licensing for the CNS, cardiovascular, urology, oncology and opioid substitution portfolio.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Valeant PharmaceuticalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Strategic partnership with Valeant Pharmaceuticals established in 2012 for the Russian market and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries, enabling GL Pharma to access and commercialize products in those regions.
• Global Scientific LaboratoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with scientific laboratories worldwide ensure GL Pharma stays current with sector developments and supports its research and development activities in innovative and generic proprietary developments across specialized indication areas.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Gedeon Richter: Hungarian specialty/generic pharmaceutical company with similar Central European heritage, branded and generic portfolio across CNS, women's health, and cardiovascular, with similar geographic reach into Eastern Europe and CIS markets.
• Almirall: Spanish specialty pharmaceutical company with similar mid-cap scale, European geographic focus, and branded specialty portfolio across dermatology and other chronic therapeutic areas.
• KRKA: Slovenian generic and specialty pharmaceutical company of comparable scale, focused on generic medicines across CNS, cardiovascular, and other chronic indications, with strong Central and Eastern European distribution.
• Polpharma: Polish pharmaceutical manufacturer with comparable generic and branded portfolio across CNS, cardiovascular, and other chronic therapeutic areas, primarily serving Central and Eastern European markets.
• Orion Corporation: Finnish pharmaceutical company with branded and generic portfolio across CNS, oncology supportive care, and other chronic indications, with pan-European distribution comparable to GL Pharma's Northern European footprint.
• Stada Arzneimittel: German specialty and generics pharmaceutical company with a comparable portfolio strategy spanning branded specialty and generics, similar pan-European distribution model, and mid-cap revenue scale.
• Zentiva: European generic and specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Prague with similar Central European focus, broad generics portfolio, and distribution across European markets including Eastern Europe.

Broad incumbents

• Lundbeck: Danish specialty pharmaceutical company with deep CNS focus (depression, epilepsy, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's), overlapping materially with GL Pharma's CNS therapeutic portfolio across European markets.
• Sandoz (Novartis): Global leader in generic pharmaceuticals with comparable generics portfolio strategy and European manufacturing/distribution footprint; competes broadly with GL Pharma's generic business across most therapeutic areas.

Emerging players

• AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals: Austrian specialty pharmaceutical company focused on rare diseases and specialty indications; comparable as an Austrian-headquartered specialty pharma with similar geographic footprint and therapeutic focus overlap.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries14 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 GL Pharma