Cipharm

What Cipharm does

Cipharm is an Ivorian pharmaceutical manufacturer founded in 1986 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, producing affordable generic medications for the African market across therapeutic categories including antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, antimalarials, analgesics, antihistamines, antifungals, mucolytics, muscle relaxants, IV fluids, and hemodialysis solutions. The company operates a 3,400 m² GMP (BPF)-compliant facility with modern laboratory equipment (HPLC chains, UV/IR spectrophotometers, potentiometers), stainless steel production lines, and a 1,000-pallet warehouse, supported by ~650 employees and validated by major multinational pharmaceutical groups for contract manufacturing.

The company's business model combines direct generic manufacturing, toll/contract manufacturing for international laboratories, and multi-country distribution across 12 West and Central African countries (Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, Guinea, Mauritania, Togo, Cameroon, Congo, Central African Republic) via 359 marketing authorizations. Products are priced at approximately half the cost of imported equivalents, distributed through its own distributor network, representation agencies, Planet pharma as a core Francophone Africa partner, retail pharmacies, and government public tenders. GTM relies on field sales teams conducting physician detailing and pharmacy visits, supported by participation in industry events such as Africa Santé Expo and Pharmafrica Expo.

Cipharm is owned 80% by private Ivorian pharmacists, with a minority stake held by West African PE firm Cauris Management (via its Cauris Croissance II fund, which invested 2 billion F CFA / ~€3M in 2014). The company is led by PDG Ibrahim Diawara (25+ years tenure) and received the Ivorian President's Industry Excellence Award in 2017. UNAIDS engaged with Cipharm in 2017 to support potential WHO-prequalified antiretroviral manufacturing, and the company has built partnerships with major multinational pharmaceutical groups for toll manufacturing and product validation.

Name

Cipharm

Legal name

Cipharm

Website

https://cipharm.ci

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cipharm is an Ivorian pharmaceutical manufacturer founded in 1986 that produces affordable generic medications across antibiotics, antimalarials, anti-inflammatories, IV fluids, and hemodialysis solutions, serving healthcare providers, pharmacies, and public health programs across 12 African countries with 359 marketing authorizations.

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 (42421)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Generic Hospital & Institutional Products (HLAIABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cold, Flu, Cough & Allergy Remedies (Decongestants, Antihistamines, Cough Syrups, Lozenges) (CRADAMAD), Specialty Pharmaceutical Distributors (HLAIAJAB)

Keywords

• Generic pharmaceuticals
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Contract manufacturing
• Antimalarial medications
• Hemodialysis solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Abidjan

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Generic Pharmaceutical Production: Production and sale of competitive generic medications that meet African market needs with quality, efficacy, and safety. Products include tablets, powders, and syrups.
2. Contract Manufacturing: Manufacturing and packaging pharmaceutical products for third parties (toll manufacturing)
3. Product Distribution: Distribution of pharmaceutical products through network of distributors across 12 African countries
4. Regulatory Services: Regulatory affairs including product registration, AMM renewal, pharmacovigilance, and market access support

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cipharm manufactures and distributes a broad portfolio of generic pharmaceutical products for human use — including antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, antimalarials, analgesics/antipyretics, antihistamines, antifungals, mucolytics, antispasmodics, antiparasitics, IV fluids, hemodialysis solutions, and mineral/iron supplements — in tablets, capsules, syrups, suspensions, powders, injectables, and suppository forms. The company also provides toll/contract manufacturing services for multinational pharmaceutical partners and supports regulatory affairs (product registration, AMM renewal, pharmacovigilance, market access) across African markets.

Product overview

Cipharm is an Ivorian pharmaceutical company established in 1986, specializing in the production, development, and promotion of generic pharmaceutical specialties for human use. The company operates as a single unified pharmaceutical manufacturing business producing a broad portfolio of generic medications across multiple therapeutic classes. The product portfolio includes antibiotics (AMODEX, AMPIPHAR, AZRO, METRONIDAZOLE, UCLAPRIM), anti-inflammatories (ANTAFENE, DOLREX, CORTANCYL, CORTIPRED), analgesics/antipyretics (ASPIRINE, PARACETAMOL, CIPHACET, COCIPHACET), antimalarials (ARSIQUINOFORME, PLASMOCID, QUININE), antihistamines (CETIREX), antifungals (GRISEFULINE, GRISEOFULVINE, CIFLUZOLE), mucolytics (CIPHASTEINE, CARBOCISTEINE), cough suppressants (TROPHIRES), antispasmodics (TRIMESTIN), muscle relaxants (DECONTRACTYL), antiparasitics (VEREX), hemodialysis solutions (CONCENTRE ACIDE HEMODIALYSE), IV fluids (RINGER LACTATE, GLUCOSE, NACL), and mineral supplements (FUMAFER, SUPFER, FERADOL, BICARBONATE DE SODIUM). Products are distributed across 12 African countries through 359 marketing authorizations (AMM). Cipharm holds approximately 33% market share in the Ivorian pharmaceutical industry and operates a 3,400 m² manufacturing facility built to international GMP standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AMODEX Antibiotic medication for treating bacterial infections caused by sensitive germs, available in 125mg, 250mg, and 500mg formulations as syrup and capsules.
• AMPIPHAR Antibiotic capsules for treating bacterial infections, available in 250mg and 500mg capsule formulations.
• ANTAFENE Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) suspension for short-term treatment of fever and pain; available in 100mg/5ml suspension and 200mg tablets.
• ARSIQUINOFORME Antimalarial film-coated tablet for treating malaria attacks.
• ASPIRINE Analgesic and antipyretic for symptomatic treatment of fever, various pains, and rheumatism; also used as a blood thinner; available in 100mg and 500mg formulations.
• PARACETAMOL Analgesic and antipyretic medication for treating pain and fever.
• PLASMOCID Antimalarial medication for treating uncomplicated malaria attacks caused by Plasmodium falciparum; available in 20/120mg, 40/240mg, and 80/480mg formulations.
• QUININE Antimalarial medication for treating malaria.
• CONCENTRE ACIDE HEMODIALYSE Acid concentrate for hemodialysis used with low-concentration acetic acid to acidify dialysate and prevent precipitation of bicarbonate with divalent cations in renal failure patients; a Cauris Management-funded strategic product.
• RINGER LACTATE Intravenous fluid solution for hydration and electrolyte replacement; available in 500ml bags.
• FUMAFER Iron supplement for treating iron deficiency, promoted across Africa through the distribution network.
• VEREX Antiparasitic medication for treating parasitosis caused by giardiae, pinworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, anguillulae, trichinae, and tapeworms; available in tablet and oral suspension forms.
• CIPHASTEINE Mucolytic agent for treating wet cough with difficulty expectorating, particularly in acute bronchitis; available in adult (125ml 5%, 250ml) and child (125ml 2%) formulations.
• UCLAPRIM Antibacterial combination for systemic use, treating bronchial, pulmonary, ENT, digestive, urinary, and genital infections and pneumocystis; available in 400/80mg and 800/160mg tablets and 100ml suspension.
• DOLREX Anti-inflammatory medication for fighting inflammation, pain, and reducing fever; available in various formulations including suppositories and LP adult forms.
• Contract (Toll) Manufacturing Services Manufacturing and packaging of pharmaceutical products for third parties under international BPF/GMP standards; the facility is validated by parent companies and major international laboratories who entrust Cipharm with manufacturing contracts.
• Regulatory Affairs and Market Access Services Product registration, AMM renewal, pharmacovigilance, reimbursement strategy, and regulatory monitoring services supporting market access across 12 African countries.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and unclear.

• Planet pharmacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnsures the distribution of all Cipharm products across Africa and the promotion of certain products (Antigrippine, Arsiquinoforme, Amodex, Exofène, Trophires, Verex, Fumafer) throughout Francophone Africa.
• Multinational Pharmaceutical GroupscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince its creation in 1986, Cipharm has built solid partnerships with the largest multinational pharmaceutical groups. The factory has been validated by parent companies and major international laboratories that have entrusted it with manufacturing.
• TeriakunclearOthersMentioned as associated entity on company website
• Groupe KilaniunclearOthersMentioned as associated entity on company website

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sanofi: Global multinational pharmaceutical company with a large Africa footprint and branded generics business; competes with Cipharm in therapeutic categories like antimalarials and OTC across Francophone Africa, while also being a potential originator partner.
• Cipla: Indian multinational generic manufacturer with a major African footprint including ARVs; competes with Cipharm in affordable generics across Francophone and Anglophone Africa and is one of the multinational groups Cipharm partners with.
• Aspen Pharmacare: South Africa's largest pharmaceutical manufacturer and one of the largest in Africa; produces generics, ARVs, and specialty pharma across multiple African markets, overlapping with Cipharm's generic/affordable-medicines positioning.

Others

• Missionpharma: Danish pharmaceutical distributor specializing in supplying affordable essential medicines and medical supplies to developing countries, including many in Africa; comparable as a player in the same African affordable-medicines supply chain that Cipharm participates in.

Direct peers

• Olea Pharmaceutical: Olea is Cipharm's direct competitor in Côte d'Ivoire, holding 35% of the domestic pharmaceutical market vs. Cipharm's 33%. Both produce generic medicines for the Ivorian market with similar regulatory and distribution dynamics.
• Emcure Pharmaceuticals: Indian generic manufacturer with a substantial African presence including Francophone markets; competes with Cipharm on affordable generics and ARVs in West and Central Africa.
• Strides Pharma Sciences: Indian-headquartered generic pharmaceutical manufacturer with explicit Africa growth strategy; produces generics (including anti-malarials and antibiotics) and competes in many of the same African markets as Cipharm.

Regional players

• Evans Medical (Emzor): Nigerian-headquartered generics manufacturer with a strong presence in West Africa; comparable to Cipharm as a regional African generics player producing affordable antibiotics, antimalarials, and OTC medicines, though concentrated in Nigeria.
• Fidson Healthcare: Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturer producing generics across multiple therapeutic classes; comparable as a West African regional generics manufacturer, though primarily focused on Nigeria rather than the broader 12-country footprint Cipharm operates.
• Universal Corporation Limited: Kenyan-based pharmaceutical manufacturer producing generics for East Africa; comparable as a regional African generics manufacturer targeting affordability and local production, though operating in a different sub-region than Cipharm.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cipharm-sa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Cipharm