Chemo
Chemo is a Spain-headquartered pharmaceutical CDMO (industrial division of Insud Pharma) that develops and manufactures APIs, finished dosage forms, OTC products, and veterinary medicines, serving 1,115+ pharmaceutical clients in 96 countries across 15 plants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersMadrid, Spain
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Chemo does
Chemo (legal entity Chemo Holding, S.L.) is a Spanish-headquartered pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) and the industrial division of the Insud Pharma group. The company researches, develops, and manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finished dosage forms (FDFs) for human and veterinary use, operating through four product lines: APIs & FDFs (over 100 molecules across steroids, hormones, antiulcer drugs, antifungals, prostaglandins, antihistamines, PPIs, respiratory drugs, antibiotics, and oral hormonal contraceptives in nearly 200 formulations), CMO contract manufacturing services (sterile injectables, lyophilised products, oral solids, hormonal products), OTC products (500+ ready-to-launch formulations across multiple therapeutic areas), and Vetpharma (animal health medicines with 500+ EU marketing authorisations).
Chemo runs 15 production plants and 11 R&D centers across Spain, Italy, Argentina, and India, with a workforce in the 5,001-10,000 range (over 10,000 across the broader Insud Pharma group). Technical capabilities span chemical synthesis and fermentation APIs, finished dosage forms including oral solids, injectables, hormonal products, respiratory products, and semi-solids, plus specialised manufacturing infrastructure such as 75 reactors (with 8 in totally closed production areas), 300+ KL of reaction capacity, 425+ TM of API per year, three of the world's largest fluid bed processors at 1,300 kg per batch, lyophilisation, aseptic filling, and a new oligonucleotide GMP pilot plant. A biological products facility using recombinant technology is under construction at the Saronno site.
Revenue is generated exclusively through B2B contracts with pharmaceutical companies, with pricing negotiated on a per-project basis depending on product complexity, batch size, and regulatory requirements. The company serves over 1,115 pharmaceutical partners in 96 countries, supported by the parent Insud Pharma group's distribution presence in 40+ countries. Chemo is privately held (no public ticker), with Leandro Sigman serving as Chairman and CEO, and is part of Insud Pharma alongside sister units Exeltis (branded medicines) and mAbxience (biotechnology).
Chemo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chemo
- Legal name
- Chemo Holding, S.L.
- Website
- https://chemopharmaceuticals.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Chemo is a Spain-headquartered pharmaceutical CDMO (industrial division of Insud Pharma) that develops and manufactures APIs, finished dosage forms, OTC products, and veterinary medicines, serving 1,115+ pharmaceutical clients in 96 countries across 15 plants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chemo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Drug Substance–Drug Product Integrated CDMO (HLAGABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Small-Molecule Drug Product (Solid/Oral/Parenteral) CDMO (HLAGABAB), Small-Molecule API & Intermediates CDMO (HLAGABAA)
Keywords
Where Chemo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madrid
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices12 records
Markets served
Chemo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Contract Manufacturing (CMO) - FDF Manufacturing: Contract manufacturing of Finished Dosage Forms (FDFs) for human and veterinary use. Chemo provides end-to-end services from pharmaceutical development and registration through to manufacturing, launch, and logistical organisation for pharmaceutical company partners.
- API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) Manufacturing: Manufacturing and supply of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for both human and veterinary use, serving as an integrated B2B supplier to pharmaceutical companies.
- OTC (Over-the-counter) Products: Manufacturing and packaging of over-the-counter supplements and medicines. Wide range of formulations ready to launch across multiple therapeutic areas including metabolic syndrome, digestive disorders, ocular health, weight control, and quality of life products.
- Veterinary Medicines and APIs: Development, registration and marketing of veterinary medicines, APIs for animal health, and nutraceuticals. Over 500 marketing authorisations in the EU.
- Vertical Integration Services: Full end-to-end product cycle support including pharmaceutical development, registration, intellectual property management, launch support, and logistical organisation — providing a comprehensive service model that differentiates Chemo as a one-stop-shop B2B partner.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Chemo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chemo is a global pharmaceutical contract manufacturer (CDMO) that produces Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) via chemical synthesis and fermentation, and Finished Dosage Forms (FDFs) including oral solids, injectables, hormonal products, respiratory products, and semi-solids for human and veterinary use. The company provides end-to-end services from pharmaceutical development and registration through manufacturing, launch, and logistical organisation for more than 1,115 pharmaceutical company clients in 96 countries, operating 15 plants and 11 R&D centres across Italy, Spain, Argentina, and India.
Product overview
Chemo is a global pharmaceutical company and sector leader in the research, development, and manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finished dosage forms (FDFs). The company's core product portfolio includes APIs & FDFs covering over 100 molecules and 50 pharmaceuticals including steroids, hormones, antiulcer drugs, and antibiotics; CMO contract manufacturing services offering sterile injectables, lyophilized products, and oral solid doses; OTC over-the-counter supplements and medications across multiple therapeutic areas; and Vetpharma, a veterinary division providing medicines, APIs, and nutraceuticals for animal health with over 500 EU marketing authorizations. The company operates 10 industrial plants across Italy, Spain, Argentina, India, and Latin America, serving over 1,100 pharmaceutical partners in 96 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Vetpharma: Chemo's veterinary division providing animal health solutions, specializing in development, registration and marketing of veterinary medicines, APIs and nutraceuticals. Has over 500 marketing authorisations in the EU.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,100 pharmaceutical company partners served globally
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Chemo
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Chemo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
Chemo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- MaprimedcoreJoint venture with Maprimed (Argentina) — R&D centre dedicated to scientific research and development, specialised in multi-purpose Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). Located within Maprimed's chemical plant in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- NOSCHcoreJoint venture (NOSCH, India) — research, development and manufacturing of Finished Dosage Forms, specialised in oral dosage formulations. 10,000 m2 plant on a 5,000-acre site.
- VetpharmacoreVetpharma is Chemo's dedicated veterinary division providing animal health solutions, specialising in development, registration and marketing of veterinary medicines, APIs and nutraceuticals. Products manufactured in Europe in accordance with GMP and distributed under GDP.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Chemo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Recipharm: European CDMO offering contract development and manufacturing of APIs and finished dosage forms including injectables and sterile products — directly comparable to Chemo's CMO services for human and veterinary pharmaceuticals.
- Aenova Group: One of Europe's largest pharmaceutical CDMOs offering development, manufacturing and packaging of solid, semi-solid, liquid and sterile dosage forms for human and veterinary use — directly comparable to Chemo's integrated FDF/CMO offering.
- Siegfried Holding: Swiss-listed CDMO with integrated API and FDF manufacturing across multiple sites in Europe and the US — comparable to Chemo for vertically integrated small-molecule CDMO services to global pharma clients.
- Hovione: Portuguese CDMO specialising in API development and manufacturing plus spray-dried intermediates and inhalation formulations — overlaps directly with Chemo's API, inhalation and respiratory product capabilities.
- Delpharm: France-based CDMO manufacturing sterile injectables, oral solids, liquids and semi-solids across a network of European plants — directly comparable to Chemo's FDF and sterile injectable manufacturing business.
- Fareva: French-headquartered global CDMO with API, FDF and sterile injectable manufacturing across Europe, the US and Latin America — directly competes with Chemo for B2B contract manufacturing contracts in Europe and emerging markets.
Emerging players
- Krka: Slovenian pharmaceutical company with vertical API-to-FDF integration serving generics markets in Europe and overseas — comparable to Chemo for vertically integrated generics manufacturing and CMO-adjacent services.
- Polpharma Group: Polish generics manufacturer with API and FDF capabilities serving European and CIS markets — comparable to Chemo for generic API manufacturing and finished dosage forms, especially in Central/Eastern Europe.
Broad incumbents
- Lonza Group: Global CDMO leader with broad small-molecule API, biologics and cell-and-gene therapy capabilities across Europe and the US — comparable as a larger incumbent CDMO with overlapping API/FDF services for global pharma clients.
- Catalent: US-headquartered global CDMO offering softgel, oral, sterile injectable and biologic services — comparable as a broad incumbent in contract pharmaceutical development and manufacturing serving large pharma customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chemo social profiles
Digital presenceChemo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chemo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Chemo subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries12 records
Chemo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chemo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chemo
What does Chemo do?
Chemo is a global pharmaceutical contract manufacturer (CDMO) that produces Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) via chemical synthesis and fermentation, and Finished Dosage Forms (FDFs) including oral solids, injectables, hormonal products, respiratory products, and semi-solids for human and veterinary use. The company provides end-to-end services from pharmaceutical development and registration through manufacturing, launch, and logistical organisation for more than 1,115 pharmaceutical company clients in 96 countries, operating 15 plants and 11 R&D centres across Italy, Spain, Argentina, and India.
Is Chemo a public or private company?
Chemo is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Chemo founded?
Chemo was founded in -1. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Chemo based?
Chemo is headquartered in Madrid, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does Chemo make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Contract Manufacturing (CMO) - FDF Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) Manufacturing, OTC (Over-the-counter) Products, veterinary Medicines and APIs and vertical Integration Services.
Who are Chemo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Recipharm, Aenova Group, Siegfried Holding, Hovione, Delpharm and Fareva. Emerging players are Krka and Polpharma Group. Broad incumbents are Lonza Group and Catalent.
Does Chemo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chemo.
What industry is Chemo in?
Chemo's product category is Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGABAG, Drug Substance–Drug Product Integrated CDMO, with a secondary code of HLAGABAB, Small-Molecule Drug Product (Solid/Oral/Parenteral) CDMO. Its NAICS code is 325412 and its SIC code is 2834.