Asterisk
Asterisk Lifesciences is a UK-based pharmaceutical distributor and licensing partner, founded in 1995, operating across 64+ markets through partner manufacturing in India, Spain, Germany, and the USA. It serves wholesalers, hospitals, and pharmacies via in-licensing, out-licensing, and co-marketing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Asterisk does
Asterisk Lifesciences is a UK-headquartered pharmaceutical company founded in 1995, headquartered in Ilford, London, with 101-250 employees. The company operates as a pharmaceutical distributor and licensing partner, reaching 64+ regulated and emerging markets including recent expansion into African markets such as Angola and Ghana. Its core business spans in-licensing, out-licensing, and co-marketing of pharmaceutical products across multiple therapeutic areas and dosage forms.
The company does not own primary manufacturing facilities; instead, it leverages a partner manufacturing network across India, Spain, Germany, and the USA. This asset-light model allows Asterisk to focus on regulatory navigation, product licensing, and commercial distribution rather than capital-intensive production. It holds a broad set of regulatory certifications including EU GMP, US FDA, PICS, WHO, Health Canada, TGA, INVIMA, and ANVISA, supporting market access across both highly regulated and emerging jurisdictions.
The business model is B2B pharmaceutical distribution combined with licensing economics. Revenue is generated through product sales to wholesalers, hospitals, pharmacies, and government health authorities in each served market, supplemented by licensing and co-marketing arrangements. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, M&A activity, or AI/technology capabilities.
Asterisk firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Asterisk
- Legal name
- Asterisk Lifesciences Ltd
- Website
- https://asterisklifesciences.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Asterisk Lifesciences is a UK-based pharmaceutical distributor and licensing partner, founded in 1995, operating across 64+ markets through partner manufacturing in India, Spain, Germany, and the USA. It serves wholesalers, hospitals, and pharmacies via in-licensing, out-licensing, and co-marketing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Asterisk industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Generic Pharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (424210), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Pharmaceutical Distributors (HLAIAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Drug Product Fill-Finish & Aseptic Manufacturing Services (HLAAAKAB), Small-Molecule CMC Documentation & Regulatory Support (DMF/CMC) (HLAGAHAM), Quality Engineering & Risk Management (ICH Q9/Q10, validation, change control) (HLAGAKAL)
Keywords
Where Asterisk is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices11 records
Markets served
Asterisk business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Revenue generated from selling quality pharmaceutical products across therapy segments including Cardiology, Pain and Analgesics, Gynecology, Anti-Malarial, Cephalosporin Injectable, Oncology, Diabetology, and Vitamins-Minerals-Nutrients through affiliated manufacturing and distribution partners
- Licensing (In-licensing and Out-licensing): Revenue through in-licensing patents and molecules, and out-licensing of products and technologies to partners in participated markets for co-development and co-marketing
- Co-marketing Services: Partnership-based co-marketing services leveraging wide network and global expertise to build brand value for partners
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Asterisk product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Asterisk Lifesciences is a global pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures (via EU GMP, US FDA, PIC/S and WHO approved partner facilities), and distributes a WHO pre-qualified portfolio of generic and specialty pharmaceutical products across 64+ markets. The company offers vertically integrated end-to-end capabilities including regulatory affairs, manufacturing, supply chain management, quality assurance, sales & marketing, pharmacovigilance, and in-/out-licensing and co-marketing business development services across multiple therapeutic segments.
Product overview
Asterisk Lifesciences operates as a global pharmaceutical company with a multi-faceted portfolio of products and services. The company offers a WHO pre-qualified, EU & US FDA approved product portfolio spanning multiple therapeutic segments including Cardiology, Pain and Analgesics, Gynecology, Anti-Malarial, Cephalosporin Injectable, Oncology, Diabetology, and Vitamins-Minerals-Nutrients. Products are manufactured across various dosage forms including oral solids (tablets, hard gelatin capsules), oral liquids (sachets), injectables, topical preparations (ointments, creams), and soft gelatin capsules at certified facilities in India, Spain, Germany, and USA. Asterisk provides end-to-end capabilities including regulatory services, manufacturing, supply chain management, quality assurance, sales and marketing, and pharmacovigilance. Business development services encompass in-licensing, out-licensing, and co-marketing partnerships across 64 markets globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Generic Medicines
Quantifiable outcome
- Timely product registration and market launch through dedicated regulatory team of 20 personnel
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Asterisk
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Asterisk technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Asterisk partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- EU GMP Approved Manufacturing Facilities (India)coreManufacturing partnerships with EU GMP approved facilities in India producing tablets, capsules, oral liquids, topicals and powders across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Daman locations. Facilities hold approvals from US-FDA, MHRA, ANVISA, TGA, WHO, Health Canada, FDA Ghana, NAFDAC, and EU-GMP (PIC/S).
- EU GMP Approved Manufacturing Facilities (Spain)coreManufacturing partnership in Spain producing tablets, hard gelatin capsules, and sachets with EUGMP and TGA approvals.
- US FDA Approved Manufacturing Facilities (Germany)coreManufacturing partnership in Germany producing semi solids, ointments, creams, and oral liquids.
- US FDA Approved Manufacturing Facilities (USA)coreManufacturing partnership in USA producing soft gelatin capsules with USFDA approval.
- Sales & Marketing Partners (64+ Countries)coreQuality-assured partnerships in over 64 countries spanning Europe, Middle East, South East Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Partners include hospitals, pharmacists, and wholesalers engaged in healthcare and drug delivery.
- Europe and US Based Pharmaceutical AffiliatescoreEurope and US based pharmaceutical affiliates equipped to adhere to EU compliance requirements and meet global pharmacovigilance standards.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights8 records
Asterisk competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cipla: Major India-headquartered global generic pharmaceutical company with strong emerging-market distribution across Africa, Southeast Asia, and other developing regions. Comparable vertical integration from manufacturing through distribution and similar multi-therapy portfolio approach.
- Aspen Pharmacare: South Africa-headquartered specialty pharmaceutical company with strong distribution across African emerging markets and global pharmaceutical presence. Comparable emerging-market distribution focus and specialty pharma licensing/out-licensing activity.
- Dr. Reddy's Laboratories: India-headquartered global pharmaceutical company with integrated API-to-distribution capabilities across generics, biosimilars, and OTC. Comparable vertical integration, multi-market regulatory footprint, and emerging-markets distribution focus.
- Strides Pharma: India-based generic pharmaceutical company with global distribution and licensing across emerging markets and regulated geographies. Directly comparable global licensing/distribution business model with similar focus on difficult-to-manufacture generics.
- Aurobindo Pharma: India-based vertically integrated generic pharmaceutical manufacturer with global distribution footprint across regulated and emerging markets. Directly comparable multi-dosage form manufacturing and broad therapeutic area portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- Sun Pharmaceutical Industries: Largest specialty generic pharmaceutical company in India with global footprint spanning US, India, and emerging markets. Operates in the same multi-therapy, multi-dosage form generic pharmaceutical segment with broader scale and USFDA-approved owned manufacturing.
- Viatris: Global pharmaceutical company formed from Mylan and Upjohn, with extensive generic and specialty pharmaceutical portfolio distributed across 165+ countries. Broad incumbent in global generic pharmaceutical distribution including emerging markets.
- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries: World's largest generic pharmaceutical manufacturer with extensive global distribution network across specialty and generic categories. Overlaps with Asterisk's specialty pharma distribution and difficult-to-manufacture product positioning.
Emerging players
- AdvaCare Pharma: Global pharmaceutical company focused on manufacturing and distribution of generics, specialty pharmaceuticals, and consumer health products across emerging markets. Comparable emerging-market distribution focus with portfolio breadth across multiple therapy areas.
Regional players
- STADA Arzneimittel: Germany-headquartered European-focused generic and specialty pharmaceutical company with distribution across European markets. Comparable European-headquartered specialty pharma distribution business with multi-dosage form generics portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Asterisk social profiles
Digital presenceAsterisk compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance10 records
Asterisk financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Asterisk leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Asterisk funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Asterisk 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 Asterisk
What does Asterisk do?
Asterisk Lifesciences is a global pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures (via EU GMP, US FDA, PIC/S and WHO approved partner facilities), and distributes a WHO pre-qualified portfolio of generic and specialty pharmaceutical products across 64+ markets. The company offers vertically integrated end-to-end capabilities including regulatory affairs, manufacturing, supply chain management, quality assurance, sales & marketing, pharmacovigilance, and in-/out-licensing and co-marketing business development services across multiple therapeutic segments.
Is Asterisk a public or private company?
Asterisk is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Asterisk founded?
Asterisk was founded in 1995. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Asterisk based?
Asterisk is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Asterisk make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Pharmaceutical Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are licensing (In-licensing and Out-licensing) and co-marketing Services.
Who are Asterisk's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cipla, Aspen Pharmacare, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Strides Pharma and Aurobindo Pharma. Broad incumbents are Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Viatris and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. AdvaCare Pharma is listed as an emerging player. STADA Arzneimittel is listed as a regional player.
Does Asterisk have an API?
No public API is recorded for Asterisk.
What industry is Asterisk in?
Asterisk's product category is Generic Pharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAJAB, Specialty Pharmaceutical Distributors, with a secondary code of HLAAAKAB, Drug Product Fill-Finish & Aseptic Manufacturing Services. Its NAICS code is 424210 and its SIC code is 5122.