Valpharma Group

What Valpharma Group does

Valpharma Group is a privately held pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturing group headquartered in Serravalle, San Marino, founded in 1985 by Roberto Valducci and currently led by Chairwoman Alessia Valducci. The group operates three wholly owned subsidiaries — Valpharma S.p.A. (San Marino), Valpharma International S.p.A. (Pennabilli, Italy), and Erba Vita Group S.p.A. (Chiesanuova, San Marino) — and employs approximately 430 people across three production facilities. Its business operates on two axes: (1) B2B pharmaceutical contract manufacturing under GMP, covering solid oral dosage products, IMP batches, psychotropic substances, tech transfer, and, since June 2024, full-service primary and secondary packaging via an AIFA-authorized blister line; and (2) B2C branded nutraceuticals, food supplements, and plant-based cosmetics sold under the Erba Vita brand through Italian pharmacies, parapharmacies, and herbalists, with distribution reach to 70+ countries under regulatory approvals from health authorities including AIFA, Japan, Russia, and Brazil. Revenue mechanics combine per-project CDMO contracts with unit-sale consumer goods, supported by an in-house R&D function that licenses third-party technology (e.g., MICROBAC microencapsulation from Probiotical) and collaborates with the University of Bologna on circular-economy and controlled-release tablet research. Key product franchises include FermentFlor PRO probiotics, Sterol Stop Advance cholesterol management, the Erba Vita Junior Disney line for children, and broad wellness lines covering weight management, cardiovascular, cognitive, and digestive health.

Name

Valpharma Group

Legal name

Valpharma S.p.A.

Website

https://valpharma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Valpharma Group is a privately held San Marino-Italian pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturer operating three GMP-certified production sites, offering CDMO services (solid oral dosage, IMP batches, psychotropic substances, full-service packaging) and the Erba Vita branded supplement and cosmetics line distributed to 70+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Generic Hospital & Institutional Products (HLAIABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Controlled Substances / DEA-Scheduled API Manufacturing (HLAGAHAD), Functional Foods & Supplement Formats (Gummies, Chews, Powders, Shots) (CRADAGAI), Specialty Condition Supplements (Sleep, Stress, Heart, Joint, Gut, Immunity) (CRADAGAE), Unit-Dose & Compliance Packaging (Sachets, Strip Packs, Pill Organizers) (IMALAIAH)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical contract manufacturing
• Nutraceutical manufacturing
• Food supplements
• Plant-based cosmetics
• Oral dosage production

Headquarters

HQ city

Serravalle

HQ country

San Marino

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing: Valpharma Group provides pharmaceutical development and manufacturing services for third-party clients, producing solid oral dosage products, IMP batches, psychotropic substances, and tech transfer services. With the addition of a new blister packaging line at Valpharma International (Pennabilli), the group now offers full-service manufacturing from formulation through primary and secondary packaging ready for pharmacy shelves.
2. Branded Nutraceutical & Cosmetic Products: Erba Vita Group develops and sells its own branded line of food supplements, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics, including plant-based formulations, Disney-branded Junior products, probiotic lines (FermentFlor PRO), and phytotherapy products sold through pharmacy, parapharmacy, and herbalist channels.
3. Branded Pharmaceutical Products: Valpharma develops and sells its own branded pharmaceutical product lines designed for needs at every stage of life.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Valpharma Group provides pharmaceutical contract manufacturing (solid oral dosage products, IMP batches, psychotropic substances, and tech transfer) under GMP conditions, alongside nutraceutical and cosmetic manufacturing of plant-based food supplements and topical products. Through its Erba Vita Group subsidiary, it also develops and sells its own branded nutraceuticals, probiotics, and pediatric supplements via pharmacy, parapharmacy, and herbalist channels in Italy.

Product overview

Valpharma Group is a pharmaceutical and nutraceutical company comprising three subsidiaries: Valpharma San Marino S.p.A., Valpharma International S.p.A., and Erba Vita Group S.p.A. The Group operates as an integrated contract manufacturing organization offering pharmaceutical services (solid oral dosage, IMP batches, psychotropic substances, technology transfer) and nutraceutical services (plant-based food supplements and cosmetics). Valpharma Group develops product lines for human health across all life stages. The pharmaceutical operations focus on contract manufacturing for third parties, while Erba Vita operates as a consumer-facing brand offering supplements, medical devices, and cosmetics distributed through pharmacies, parapharmacies, and herbal shops. Key product lines include FermentFlor PRO probiotics (with MICROBAC technology), Sterol Stop Advance (cholesterol management), Erba Vita Junior Disney supplements (pediatric market), and general wellness supplements (Omega 3, weight management, digestive health). The Group has invested in full-service capabilities including a new AIFA-authorized packaging line enabling delivery of pharmacy-ready products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Erba Vita Junior: Line of food supplements for children aged 3+, featuring gummy supplements with natural flavors and colors, lactose-free, gluten-free, and no added sugars. Includes DIFESE KIDS, MULTIVIT KIDS, VITAMINA D, and VITAMINA C.
• Exerence
• FermentFlor PRO
• Sterol Stop Advance

Products and services

• Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Services
• Nutraceutical and Cosmetic Manufacturing Services
• FermentFlor PRO Probiotic Line
• Sterol Stop Advance
• Erba Vita Junior Disney Line
• Linea Peso Stop / Depurazione e Peso Corporeo
• Linea Exerence
• Erbalax Forte Len
• Erba Vita General Wellness Supplements

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 5x greater clinical efficacy of MICROBAC-encapsulated probiotics compared to non-coated alternatives
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ProbioticalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Erba Vita collaborates with Probiotical (70+ years of probiotic expertise) to develop and manufacture the FermentFlor PRO line of microencapsulated probiotic supplements using Probiotical's proprietary MICROBAC technology. The collaboration also includes two new clinical studies and joint product development for specialized probiotic formulations including FermentFlor PRO Atopic and FermentFlor PRO Candi.
• Diabete RomagnaminorOthers · 1 November 2025Valpharma Group partnered with Diabete Romagna on a diabetes prevention initiative, announced November 2025.
• Disney Consumer ProductscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 August 2025Erba Vita holds a historic licensing partnership with Disney to use Disney characters (Simba from The Lion King, Stitch from Lilo & Stitch) on its Erba Vita Junior product line of gummy food supplements for children aged 3+. Erba Vita is the first company in the Italian food supplement sector to collaborate with Disney. Products are naturally free from lactose, animal gelatin, gluten, and added sugars, with natural flavors and colors.
• Banco FarmaceuticominorOthers · 1 March 2025Erba Vita entered a collaboration with Banco Farmaceutico to support access to health products for those in need, announced March 2025.
• AFI (Associazione Farmaceutici Italiani)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Ivan Belloni, Internal & External Auditing Manager of Valpharma International, coordinated an AFI study on FMEA-based prevention strategies for managing medicine shortages, published in Making Pharmaindustry.
• Repubblica di San Marino (Secretariat of Finance and Budget; Secretariat of Territory and Environment)minorOthers · 1 December 2024Valpharma S.p.A. signed a 3-year sustainability agreement with the Republic of San Marino to incentivize plastic bottle recycling among employees. An eco-compactor supplied by Green Money was installed in the company cafeteria, with each recycled bottle earning employees 1 cent (up to 5 EUR/month credited to their Smac Card).
• Banca Agricola Commerciale (San Marino)minorOthers · 1 December 2024Partner bank in the San Marino plastic recycling agreement with Valpharma S.p.A., supporting the financial transactions for employee recycling incentives via the Smac Card system.
• Uni.Rimini S.p.A. (University of Bologna Campus of Rimini)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Valpharma International acquired a 1% equity stake (15,700 shares) in Uni.Rimini S.p.A., the society that supports the University of Bologna Campus of Rimini. The group has a longstanding collaboration with the university dating to when founder Roberto Valducci helped establish the Faculty of Pharmacy in Rimini. The campus serves 5,000 students from 88 countries across 20 degree programs.
• AIFA (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco)coreOthers · 1 June 2024AIFA authorized Valpharma International's new blister packaging line for contract manufacturing operations, enabling the company to offer full-service pharmaceutical manufacturing from formulation through primary and secondary packaging ready for pharmacy distribution.
• University of Bologna (CIRI-MAM, Tecnopolo di Rimini)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Collaborative doctoral research project with Cristina Terenzi (PhD in Science and Culture of Wellbeing and Lifestyles) to extract high-value polyphenols from fruit processing by-products for use in new nutraceutical and cosmetic formulations. Research published in Antioxidants journal. Professor Vincenza Andrisano serves as scientific supervisor. Valpharma International will formulate the extracted polyphenols into controlled-release tablet products.
• FruttagelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Collaboration with Fruttagel (Alfonsine, Italy) in the circular economy research project to analyze and valorize by-products from fruit and vegetable processing. Fruttagel provides agricultural processing by-products (apple, peach, apricot, soy) from which high-value polyphenol extracts are developed for nutraceutical and cosmetic applications.
• Adidas (RiminiWellness partnership)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2024Erba Vita partnered with Adidas at RiminiWellness 2024, occupying a stand in padiglione A5, corsia centrale alongside Adidas, as part of the Official Supplements Partner arrangement with IEG (Italian Exhibition Group).

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fareva: French-headquartered global pharmaceutical and cosmetic contract manufacturer with integrated formulation, manufacturing, and packaging services. Comparable as a family-controlled European full-service pharma/cosmetic manufacturer with a similar mix of contract and proprietary activities.
• Aenova: European pharmaceutical contract manufacturer with capabilities spanning solid dosage forms, softgels, and packaging across multiple sites. Comparable as a mid-market European pharma CMO serving similar third-party pharma customers.
• Recipharm: European pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) offering solid oral dosage, sterile fill-finish, and tech transfer services. Highly comparable as a B2B-focused pharma CMO with multi-country regulatory footprint serving similar pharma clients.
• PharmaNutra: Italian nutraceutical and food supplement company with branded product lines (ApportAL, Ferro, Cetilar) sold through pharmacy channels. Comparable as an Italian pharmacy-channel nutraceutical company with branded SKUs and clinical differentiation.
• CordenPharma: European pharmaceutical contract manufacturer with strong capabilities in highly potent APIs, controlled substances, and oral solid dosage. Closely comparable given Valpharma's psychotropic-substance manufacturing capability and GMP-certified solid oral dose focus.
• Molteni Farmaceutici: Italian pharmaceutical manufacturer with a strong specialty in controlled substances (pain, addiction) and solid oral dosage forms. Comparable given Valpharma's psychotropic-substance manufacturing capability and Italian/European focus.

Broad incumbents

• Perrigo: Global consumer self-care company producing OTC, personal care, and nutritional products sold through pharmacy and retail channels. Comparable as a player in the consumer health and supplement category sold through European pharmacy channels, though at much greater scale and with broader geographic reach.
• Catalent: Global pharmaceutical CDMO offering oral solid dose, biologics, sterile fill-finish, and softgel technologies across a global network. Comparable as a B2B pharmaceutical contract manufacturer with overlapping solid oral dose capabilities, though at materially greater scale.
• Italfarmaco: Italian pharmaceutical group with branded prescription, OTC, and consumer health products across multiple therapeutic areas. Comparable as an Italian-based pharma company with branded and contract manufacturing operations, though much larger and more diversified.

Emerging players

• Named Group: Italian nutraceutical and sports-nutrition company (Named Sport, Named Sport Progetti) with branded products distributed via pharmacy and specialty channels. Comparable as an Italian pharmacy-channel nutraceutical brand with similar go-to-market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/valpharma-group

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Valpharma Group