Afaxys Pharma

What Afaxys Pharma does

Afaxys Pharma, LLC is a U.S. specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, and a subsidiary of Afaxys, Inc., a Public Benefit Corporation. The company markets a portfolio of FDA-approved generic and branded contraceptive products, including 11 oral contraceptive formulations (combined monophasic and triphasic estrogen/progestin pills, progestin-only pills, and iron-supplemented regimens such as Aubra EQ, Chateal EQ, Cyred EQ, Jasmiel, Lyleq, Tarina 24 Fe, Tarina Fe 1/20 EQ, Tri-VyLibra, Tri-VyLibra Lo, and VyLibra), one over-the-counter emergency contraceptive (EContra One-Step), and one combined hormonal contraceptive patch (Twirla, promoted under an authorized partnership with Agile Therapeutics). The company additionally distributes Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection 1% as an adjacent clinical product.

Revenue is generated through one-time product sales across a multi-channel distribution architecture. The core channel is indirect via the major U.S. pharmaceutical wholesalers — AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, McKesson, McKesson Medical-Surgical, Henry Schein, ANDA, ASD Healthcare, Morris & Dickson, and R & S Northeast — supplying more than 10,000 clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and public healthcare centers nationwide. Direct-to-consumer access for OTC and prescription products runs through Amazon and the Planned Parenthood Direct app. End customers are prescribers (physicians, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, physician assistants) serving safety-net and underserved populations, with the stated positioning of being the #1 provider of oral and emergency contraceptives in U.S. clinics per IQVIA data.

In August 2025 Afaxys raised $8 million ($3 million program-related investment from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and $5 million grant from an anonymous foundation) to develop a new contraceptive product for marginalized communities and women in contraceptive deserts. The company competes in generic pharmaceutical markets characterized by price compression; its stated differentiation rests on stable pricing, supply reliability, mission alignment with safety-net providers, and portfolio breadth across contraceptive modalities.

Name

Afaxys Pharma

Legal name

Afaxys Pharma, LLC

Website

https://afaxyspharma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Afaxys Pharma is a U.S. specialty pharmaceutical company that markets a portfolio of FDA-approved generic and branded oral contraceptives, emergency contraception, a contraceptive patch, and adjacent clinical injectables, distributed through major wholesalers to over 10,000 clinics and federally qualified health centers serving underserved populations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contraceptive Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (4242)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Endocrinology & Reproductive Health Pharmaceuticals (incl. Women’s Health) (HLAIAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Generic Hospital & Institutional Products (HLAIABAL), Specialty Care Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAB)

Keywords

• Generic oral contraceptives
• Emergency contraception products
• Contraceptive transdermal patches
• Reproductive health pharmaceuticals
• Public health contraceptives

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Afaxys Pharma generates revenue through the sale of generic pharmaceutical contraceptive products including oral contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, and contraceptive patches to healthcare providers, clinics, pharmacies, and directly to consumers via OTC channels.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Afaxys Pharma markets and distributes a broad portfolio of FDA-approved generic and branded contraceptive products, including 11 oral contraceptive formulations, an over-the-counter emergency contraceptive (EContra One-Step), and a once-weekly combined hormonal contraceptive patch (Twirla), plus an adjacent clinical product (Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection). Products are sold through national and regional pharmaceutical distributors to more than 10,000 U.S. clinics, federally qualified health centers, and pharmacies, with select OTC and prescription products also available to consumers via Amazon and Planned Parenthood Direct.

Product overview

Afaxys Pharma is a pharmaceutical company providing a broad portfolio of contraceptive products, positioned as the #1 provider of oral and emergency contraceptives in U.S. clinics. The product portfolio comprises 11 oral contraceptive formulations (including monophasic and triphasic combined hormonal pills, progestin-only pills, and iron-supplemented formulations), 1 emergency contraceptive (EContra One-Step OTC), 1 contraceptive patch (Twirla as authorized promotional partner), and 1 adjacent healthcare product (Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection). Products are distributed through major pharmaceutical wholesalers including AmerisourceBergen, ANDA, ASD Healthcare, Cardinal Health, Henry Schein, McKesson, Morris & Dickson, and R & S Northeast. The company is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, and focuses on affordable contraceptive access for underserved populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aubra EQ

Quantifiable outcome

• Products available at over 10,000 clinics and public healthcare centers nationwide

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Agile TherapeuticscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAfaxys Pharma is an authorized promotional partner for Twirla (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol transdermal system), a once-weekly combined hormonal contraceptive patch. Afaxys markets and promotes Twirla alongside its own contraceptive portfolio.
• AmazoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEContra One-Step emergency contraceptive is available for purchase on Amazon for over-the-counter home delivery, making emergency contraception accessible directly to consumers.
• Planned Parenthood DirectcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for prescription contraceptive delivery through the Planned Parenthood Direct app, enabling home delivery or pharmacy pickup options for patients.
• AmerisourceBergencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational healthcare distributor for Afaxys Pharma contraceptive products. Part of the distributor network that healthcare providers already rely on for product procurement.
• Cardinal HealthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational healthcare distributor for Afaxys Pharma contraceptive products. Healthcare providers access Afaxys products through Cardinal Health's distribution network.
• McKessoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor national healthcare distributor and McKesson Medical-Surgical serving as distribution channel for Afaxys Pharma contraceptive products to healthcare providers and pharmacies.
• ASD HealthcarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialty healthcare distributor providing access to Afaxys Pharma contraceptive products for healthcare providers and pharmacies.
• ANDAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPharmaceutical distributor for Afaxys Pharma products including oral contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, and adjacent products.
• Henry ScheincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHealthcare distributor and McKesson Medical-Surgical partner providing access to Afaxys Pharma products including Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection for clinical settings.
• Morris & DicksoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional healthcare distributor serving as a distribution channel for Afaxys Pharma contraceptive and adjacent products.
• R & S NortheastcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional healthcare distributor in the Northeast serving as a distribution channel for Afaxys Pharma products.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Perrigo Company: Large OTC and generic pharmaceutical manufacturer that produces Plan B One-Step and other emergency contraceptives; competes with Afaxys in the OTC emergency contraceptive category (Amazon, retail) as a broader portfolio incumbent.
• Sandoz (Novartis generics): One of the world's largest generic pharmaceutical manufacturers with extensive U.S. generic contraceptive distribution; competes as a broad incumbent in the same clinic and pharmacy channels Afaxys serves.
• Amneal Pharmaceuticals: U.S. generic pharmaceutical company with broad specialty and generics portfolio including women's health; comparable as a broader incumbent in generic oral contraceptives distributed through the same wholesaler network.
• Lupin Pharmaceuticals: Major global generic pharmaceutical manufacturer with U.S. presence across multiple therapeutic categories including women's health; competes with Afaxys through generic oral contraceptive distribution to clinics and pharmacies.

Direct peers

• Agile Therapeutics: Developer and owner of the Twirla contraceptive patch, for which Afaxys Pharma acts as authorized promotional partner — direct commercial overlap in the U.S. contraceptive patch and combined hormonal contraceptive category.
• TherapeuticsMD: Specialty women's health pharmaceutical company focused on reproductive health products including oral contraceptives and hormone therapies; directly comparable to Afaxys Pharma's reproductive health and women's health focus, though historically more branded than generic.
• Mayne Pharma: Generic pharmaceutical manufacturer with a women's health portfolio that includes oral contraceptives and other reproductive health products; directly comparable to Afaxys Pharma's generic oral contraceptive strategy and target channels.
• Exeltis USA: Global women's health pharmaceutical company with a U.S. portfolio spanning reproductive health, including generic contraceptives; closely comparable to Afaxys on product category and target prescriber base.

Emerging players

• Cadence Health (private women's health): Smaller emerging women's health pharmaceutical company targeting reproductive health; partial overlap with Afaxys' category focus but typically narrower product set and earlier stage.
• Daré Bioscience: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on women's reproductive and sexual health; represents an emerging innovation-led approach in the same category, contrasting with Afaxys' commercial-stage generic model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afaxys

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Afaxys Pharma