Pharma Lab

What Pharma Lab does

Pharma Lab is a French pharmaceutical establishment and parallel import distributor that commercializes European medications, medical devices, and parapharmaceutical products for the French market. The company imports pharmaceutical products from other EU/EEA member states that have identical composition, pharmaceutical form, and therapeutic effects to French-authorized products, then re-labels or re-packages them with French-language packaging and anti-counterfeiting features (Data Matrix traceability, invisible microtext, sealed closures, varnish reserves). Pharma Lab was the first French company to obtain Parallel Import Authorizations (AIP) from ANSM (first license: 02/08/2006) and has since filed several dozen licenses with ANSM and EMA to build a regulated product catalog.

The company operates as a subsidiary of La Coopérative Welcoop, a French health-sector cooperative. Distribution is handled by Welcoop Logistique, one of France's oldest pharmaceutical depositaries with 60+ years of experience, while commercial operations are managed by Welcoop Solution Produits via phone, fax, and electronic ordering integrated into pharmacy management software (Pharmagest/LGPI-CIP, Offidirect, Objectif Pharma). Pharma Lab's customer base is exclusively French community pharmacies (officines); the indirect beneficiary is the French Social Security system, which captures approximately 5% direct savings per parallel-imported box compared to equivalent French products.

Pharma Lab is structured as a Société par Actions Simplifiée (SAS) with €4,000,000 in registered share capital, headquartered at 1 bis rue du Havre, 75008 Paris. The company is a member of AME (Affordable Medicines Europe), the European association representing 70+ parallel medicine distributors across 22 countries. Revenue is generated through transactional pharmaceutical sales with tiered shipping economics (free shipping at €300+, €15 flat fee below), and pharmacies receive approximately €1 of additional margin per box sold. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and no venture capital, private equity, or public ownership is indicated.

Name

Pharma Lab

Legal name

PHARMA LAB

Website

https://pharmalab.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pharma Lab is a French pharmaceutical parallel importer and subsidiary of La Coopérative Welcoop that re-labels and distributes European medications, medical devices, and parapharmaceuticals exclusively to French community pharmacies, with first-mover AIP licensing from ANSM and EMA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Distribution

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Pharmacy Logistics, Returns, Reverse Distribution & Compliance Services (CRAOAHAJ)

Keywords

• Parallel pharmaceutical imports
• Medication repackaging services
• Pharmaceutical wholesale distribution
• European medication sourcing
• Pharmacy supply products

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Parallel Import Pharmaceutical Sales: Pharma Lab generates revenue through the sale of parallel imported European medications to French pharmacies. The company imports pharmaceutical products from other EU/EEA member states that have identical composition, pharmaceutical form, and therapeutic effects to French-authorized products, offering cost savings to the French healthcare system.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Pharma Lab is a French pharmaceutical establishment that parallel-imports medications from other EU/EEA member states and distributes them to French community pharmacies after French-language repackaging or relabeling. The company also distributes medical devices and parapharmaceutical products, and is the first French company to obtain Parallel Import Authorizations (AIP) from ANSM and EMA.

Product overview

Pharma Lab operates as a pharmaceutical establishment and parallel import distributor, commercializing European medications in the French market. The core offering consists of three main product categories: European medications (parallel imports from EU member states), medical devices, and para-pharmaceutical products. Pharma Lab was the first French company to obtain Parallel Import Authorizations (AIP) from ANSM and EMA, with dozens of licenses filed. The company provides ancillary services including re-labeling (applying French-language labels to existing European packaging) and re-packaging (creating new French-compliant packaging with regulatory approval), both ensuring clear French-language patient information. Secure packaging with anti-counterfeiting features (sealed closures, Data Matrix for traceability, microtext security) is integrated into product delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• European Medications (Médicaments européens) Parallel-imported pharmaceutical products from other EU/EEA member states with identical composition, pharmaceutical form, and therapeutic effects to French-authorized products, repackaged or re-labeled for the French market under French-language labeling and regulatory compliance. Sold to French community pharmacies for dispensing to patients.
• Medical Devices (Dispositifs médicaux)

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately €1 additional margin per box sold for pharmacies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• La Coopérative WelcoopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company of Pharma Lab. La Coopérative Welcoop is a healthcare cooperative that owns Pharma Lab as a subsidiary establishment. Pharma Lab benefits from the cooperative's infrastructure, values, and strategic direction in the pharmaceutical sector.
• Welcoop LogistiquecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of France's oldest pharmaceutical distributors with over 60 years of experience. Provides logistics, storage, and distribution services for Pharma Lab's imported medications, ensuring secure and reliable supply chain operations.
• Welcoop Solution ProduitscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial service provider managing Pharma Lab's sales operations to pharmacies. Handles customer orders via phone and fax, provides account management, and coordinates with pharmacy software platforms.
• AME (Affordable Medicines Europe)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean association of parallel medicine distributors representing over 70 distributors and national associations across 22 European countries. Pharma Lab is a member, benefiting from advocacy for free medicine trade across Europe and association with industry leadership. AME states that parallel distribution leads to increased healthcare quality and greater availability of innovative medicines.
• EquasenscoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading developer of IT solutions for French pharmacies, with 9,800 equipped pharmacies, 50,000 health professional users, 600 collaborators, and 30 agencies in France. Provides Pharmagest software integration enabling electronic ordering of Pharma Lab products.
• PharmagestcoreTechnology or IntegrationPart of Equasens group, Pharmagest is the leading pharmacy management software in France, enabling electronic ordering (LGPI-CIP) of Pharma Lab's parallel imported medications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• CC Pharma: German parallel importer focused on reimporting pharmaceuticals for the German and broader EU market. Direct comparable in regulatory-licensed parallel import, repackaging, and pharmacy distribution.
• 2care4: Danish parallel importer active across European markets, supplying pharmacies with parallel-imported pharmaceuticals. Operates an analogous niche business model focused on cross-EU price arbitrage and repackaging.
• Abacus Medicine: Danish-based parallel distributor specializing in pharmaceuticals and parallel imports across European markets. Closely mirrors Pharma Lab's model of sourcing cross-EU and supplying pharmacy customers with cost-advantaged products.
• Haemopharm: Italian parallel importer of pharmaceutical products, serving European markets including France. Comparable in regulatory licensing (AIP equivalent), repackaging capabilities, and pharmacy supply.
• Orifarm Group: Danish parallel importer and pharmaceutical distributor with significant European parallel-import operations. Competes directly in sourcing EU member-state product differentials and supplying cost-competitive medications to pharmacies.
• EurimPharm Arzneimittel: One of Europe's largest parallel importers of pharmaceuticals, headquartered in Germany. Operates the same parallel-import, repackaging, and relabeling business model for community pharmacies across EU member states, making it the most direct comparable to Pharma Lab.

Broad incumbents

• Alliance Healthcare: Major European pharmaceutical wholesaler (part of Walgreens Boots Alliance) distributing to community pharmacies. Adjacent incumbent with overlapping pharmacy distribution but broader portfolio than Pharma Lab's parallel-import specialization.
• Celesio / McKesson Europe: Large-scale European pharmaceutical distribution and pharmacy services operator. Overlaps with Pharma Lab in pharmacy supply chain but operates at far greater scale across retail, wholesale, and patient services.
• Phoenix Group: One of Europe's largest pharmaceutical wholesale distributors, headquartered in Germany. Competes in pharmaceutical distribution to pharmacies across Europe, including parallel-import activity via subsidiaries, though as part of a much broader wholesale portfolio.

Regional players

• OCP Répartition: Major French pharmaceutical wholesaler and depositary serving community pharmacies across France. Comparable in the French pharmacy distribution channel though OCP operates full-line wholesale rather than parallel-import specialization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pharma-lab

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Pharma Lab