Grupo Indukern

What Grupo Indukern does

Grupo Indukern is a privately held Spanish family-owned holding company founded in 1962 in Barcelona, headquartered in Terrassa (Barcelona), and currently operating two main subsidiaries: Kern Pharma, the human generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars laboratory (established 1999 from the acquired Roche Terrassa facility), and Laboratorios Calier, the veterinary health laboratory (established 1968). The group employs approximately 1,393 people across 13 subsidiary countries with sales reach into 80+ countries. Following the 2021 divestiture of its Indukern chemical distribution business to Belgium's Ravago Group, the company has refocused its portfolio on human pharmaceuticals (cardiovascular, CNS, ophthalmology, dermatology, urology, gynecology, self-care, biosimilars, and sports nutrition via the Finisher brand) and animal health (vaccines, parasiticides, companion animal products, and production animal health solutions for swine, poultry, cattle, horses, and bees). Manufacturing is vertically integrated across multiple plants: a 4,000 sqm Kern Pharma facility in Terrassa for liquids and creams, a Calier production facility in Les Franqueses del Vallès (Barcelona), and a dedicated Calier biological plant in León for vaccine development inaugurated in 2019.

The company's revenue model is built on B2B pharmaceutical and veterinary product sales through owned subsidiaries, wholesale distribution networks (Hefame, Novaltia, Cecofar in Spain), veterinary clinic networks, and international distributors in 80+ countries. Kern Pharma's portfolio spans 150+ products across 400 presentations with sustained annual launch activity, while Calier holds proprietary "first or only" product positions in key segments: FIXR PRRS INAC (only inactivated PRRS vaccine), Primum Salmonella E (only laying-period Salmonella vaccine), Calistrip Biox (unique oxalic acid varroa strip), and Kern Pharma launched Spain's first EMA-approved monoclonal antibody biosimilar and continues to expand biosimilars (Steqeyma/ustekinumab, 2024). Pricing is transaction-based for veterinary products and one-time license-style for prescription generics and OTC consumer healthcare, with publicly disclosed retail prices on OTC items (e.g., DicloKern 4.53 EUR, DormiKern 6.09 EUR) and quote-based B2B pricing elsewhere. The go-to-market motion combines direct sales via subsidiaries in 13 countries, third-party distributor networks internationally, and professional education programs (AULA FIR for hospital pharmacists, Mañanas de Formación for community pharmacists, veterinary jornadas) targeting healthcare professionals.

Financial scale places current group turnover at approximately 403 million EUR post-2021 divestiture, down from a 2018 historical figure of 778 million EUR that included the now-sold chemical distribution segment. The remaining Kern Pharma and Calier businesses generate stable, recurring demand from fragmented pharmacy, hospital, and veterinary end-customers across Spain, the rest of Europe, and Latin America. The company's competitive position is anchored in regulatory approvals (EMA biosimilars, multi-jurisdiction vaccine authorizations), proprietary veterinary biologics with no direct substitutes, and a six-decade brand reputation in Spanish pharmaceutical and veterinary markets. Leadership remains under founding family control, with José Luis Díaz-Varela as President/Founder and Raúl Díaz-Varela as Executive Vice President.

Name

Grupo Indukern

Legal name

GRUPO INDUKERN, S.L.

Website

https://grupoindukern.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Grupo Indukern is a privately held Spanish family-owned holding company operating Kern Pharma (human generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars) and Laboratorios Calier (veterinary health), serving pharmacies, hospitals, and veterinary channels across 13 subsidiary countries and 80+ sales countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (424210)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Generic Hospital & Institutional Products (HLAIABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parasiticides & Ectoparasite Control (Flea/Tick/Heartworm) (HLAMAEAD), Veterinary Pharmaceutical Wholesalers & Distributors (HLAMAIAA)

Keywords

• Generic pharmaceuticals
• Veterinary vaccines
• Animal health biologics
• Biosimilar medicines
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Human Pharmaceuticals (Kern Pharma): Development, manufacturing and commercialization of generic pharmaceutical products including cardiovascular, CNS, ophthalmology, dermatology, urology medications. 163 million EUR revenue (2013 data). Main market is Spain (76% of sales).
2. Animal Health (Calier): Research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of veterinary products including vaccines, parasiticides, and companion animal medications. 91 million EUR revenue (2013 data). 84% international sales with strong presence in South America.
3. Chemical Distribution (Indukern): Global distribution of chemical products including active pharmaceutical ingredients, industrial chemicals, flavors and fragrances. 438 million EUR revenue (2013 data). 67% from international operations.
4. Consumer Healthcare Products: Self-care products including OTC medications, health supplements (Finisher), and medical devices sold through pharmacies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Grupo Indukern is a family-owned Spanish pharmaceutical holding group that develops, manufactures, and commercializes generic medicines, biosimilars, and self-care health products for human use through its Kern Pharma subsidiary, and veterinary medicines, vaccines, parasiticides, and biologicals for food-producing and companion animals through its Calier subsidiary. Products are sold via pharmacy wholesale networks, veterinary clinics, and international distributors in 80+ countries, with manufacturing facilities in Terrassa, Les Franqueses del Vallès, and León, Spain.

Product overview

Grupo Indukern is a family-owned Spanish pharmaceutical/health group operating two main business units: Calier (veterinary health) and Kern Pharma (human pharmaceuticals). Calier focuses on animal health, offering vaccines (Primum Salmonella E, Primun Salmonella T, FIXR® PRRS INAC), antiparasitics (Milbeprazin Sabor), companion animal products (AdoQUATRO, ComPet line), and livestock solutions (Bimacox, VeteCorH®). Kern Pharma develops generic medicines, biosimilars (Steqeyma®), and self-care products, with therapeutic areas spanning ophthalmology, neurology, musculoskeletal, and sports nutrition (Finisher®). The group also operates in flavors and fragrances and chemical distribution, having sold its Indukern distribution business to Ravago Group in 2021. The group employs 1,393 people across 13 subsidiary countries and sells in over 80 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Calier: Veterinary laboratory improving production of animal-based foods and ensuring well-being of companion animals
• Kern Pharma
• Gynea Laboratorios
• Actafarma
• Granard

Products and services

• Calier (veterinary laboratory division) Veterinary laboratory division of Grupo Indukern that develops, manufactures, and commercializes animal health products including vaccines, parasiticides, nutritional supplements, and companion animal products for food-producing animals (poultry, swine, cattle) and companion animals across Latin America and Europe.
• Kern Pharma (human pharmaceutical laboratory division) Pharmaceutical laboratory division of Grupo Indukern that develops, manufactures, and commercializes generic medicines, biosimilars, OTC self-care products, and health supplements for human health across cardiovascular, CNS, ophthalmology, dermatology, urology, and other therapeutic areas in Spain and international markets.
• FIXR® PRRS INAC Calier's inactivated PRRS vaccine for swine, the only inactivated vaccine on the market that reduces viremia and reproductive symptoms caused by European and American PRRSv strains in gilts and sows, administered during gestation or during acute outbreaks via partnership with Kern Farm.
• Primum Salmonella E Calier's Salmonella Enteritidis vaccine for poultry, the first and only vaccine authorized for use during the laying period, protecting against Salmonella Enteritidis in laying hens.
• Calistrip Biox Calier's unique oxalic acid strip for varroa mite control in beekeeping, unmatched by any other product on the market.
• Primun Salmonella T Calier's vaccine against Salmonella Typhimurium for broilers, authorized for poultry production.
• Steqeyma® Kern Pharma's biosimilar of ustekinumab for the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, expanding its biosimilars portfolio which includes the first EMA-approved monoclonal antibody biosimilar marketed in Spain.
• Finisher® (sports nutrition line) Kern Pharma's sports nutrition line including Finisher® Omega-3 supplement, sold as the leader in sports nutrition sales in Spanish pharmacies for two consecutive years.
• Diclokern® Forte 23,2 mg/g Kern Pharma's diclofenac diethylamine topical gel, launched in a new 150g format that is the largest OTC diclofenac format on the Spanish OTC market.
• Bimeprazol 370mg/gr Oral Paste Calier's oral paste for the treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers in horses.
• Milbeprazin Sabor Calier's flavored companion animal antiparasitic / deworming product, expanding the companion animal deworming formulary.
• VeteCorH® Calier's bovine reproductive solution designed to induce ovulation and strengthen the luteotrophic effect in cattle.
• ComPet Power High-concentration energy supplement within Calier's ComPet line of food supplements for companion animals.
• Teriflunomida 14 mg Kern Pharma's generic teriflunomide 14 mg for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
• Condroitín sulfato 400 mg Kern Pharma's chondroitin sulfate 400 mg capsules for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
• Latanoprost/Timolol Kern Pharma eye drops Kern Pharma's combination latanoprost 50 mcg/ml and timolol 5 mg/ml eye drops indicated for reducing intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Quantifiable outcome

• First EMA-approved monoclonal antibody biosimilar launched in Spain
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kern FarmcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2026Dutch company specialized in development and commercialization of biologics for preventing diseases in production animals. Partnership with Calier enabled commercialization of FIXR PRRS INAC vaccine and entry into swine biologics segment. Calier plans to expand biologics portfolio through this partnership.
• AVEPA (Asociación Española de Veterinarios de Pequeños Animales)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Spanish small animal veterinary association. Joint partnership for 'No los ves, pero están ahí' parasite prevention campaign. First edition launched in 2025 with educational materials for pet owners.
• Ravago GroupcoreOthers · 1 January 2021Belgian multinational. Grupo Indukern sold its Indukern chemical distribution business to Ravago Group in 2021. Strategic exit from chemicals sector to focus on pharma and animal health.
• ActafarmacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Specialized in health self-care. Acquired by Kern Pharma to expand self-care product portfolio and health supplement offerings.
• Granard (US)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016US pharmaceutical company. Kern Pharma acquired 60% stake to create first US subsidiary for market expansion.
• Gynea LaboratorioscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Spanish pharmaceutical company specializing in women's health. 100% acquisition by Kern Pharma to expand gynecology portfolio. Maintained as independent company with 78 employees, 10M EUR revenue, and subsidiary in Chile.
• Hertape Calier (Brazil)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Joint venture with Hertape laboratories, pioneers in Brazilian animal health market. Created Hertape-Calier subsidiary in Brazil. Sold in 2014.
• Majoristas farmacéuticos (Hefame, Novaltia, Cecofar)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpanish pharmaceutical wholesale distributors supporting Kern Pharma's pharmacy distribution network. Organize joint training programs with Kern Pharma.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Laboratorios Hipra: Spanish veterinary pharmaceutical company headquartered in Catalonia, directly competing with Calier in livestock vaccines (notably PRRS and Salmonella) across Europe and LATAM. Closest geographic and product-line peer to Calier's biologics franchise.
• Ceva Santé Animale: French multinational veterinary pharma focused on vaccines and production-animal health. Direct overlap with Calier's poultry/swine biologics portfolio and comparable LATAM distribution footprint.
• Vetoquinol: Independent French veterinary pharmaceutical company comparable in scale and structure to Calier, with companion animal and livestock focus across Europe and emerging markets.
• Normon: Spanish generic pharmaceutical laboratory with similar size and product mix (generics, OTC) to Kern Pharma. Direct competitor in the Spanish NHS pharmacy channel.
• KRKA: Slovenian generic pharmaceutical manufacturer with strong CEE and Western European generics presence plus animal health division. Closely comparable business mix to Grupo Indukern across both Kern Pharma and Calier segments.
• Zentiva: European generics manufacturer with strong presence in CEE and Western Europe. Directly comparable to Kern Pharma in generic portfolio breadth, hospital channel focus, and OTC expansion.
• Dechra Pharmaceuticals: UK-listed veterinary pharmaceutical company specializing in companion animal and livestock products. Direct overlap with Calier's parasiticides, equine, and companion animal segments.

Broad incumbents

• Virbac: Global veterinary pharmaceutical company with broad companion-animal and livestock product portfolio. Overlaps with Calier across parasiticides, vaccines, and nutrition, but at materially larger scale (>$1B revenue).
• STADA Arzneimittel: European-focused generics and consumer healthcare company. Comparable business model to Kern Pharma with broader geographic footprint and specialty/biosimilar expansion.

Regional players

• Almirall: Spanish-headquartered pharmaceutical company with dermatology focus, sharing market and regulatory environment with Kern Pharma. Comparable in Spanish pharma ecosystem but focused on branded specialty rather than generics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/caliermascotas
• Xx.com/Grupo_Indukern
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grupo-indukern

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries19 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 Grupo Indukern