Acme Pharma
Acme Pharma Limited is a UK-based MHRA-licensed pharmaceutical wholesaler, founded in 2014, supplying branded and generic medicines, medical devices, and clinical trial products to over 20,000 pharmacies, hospitals, wholesalers, governments, and NGOs across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersWelwyn Garden City, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Acme Pharma does
Acme Pharma Limited is a UK-based wholesale pharmaceutical distributor founded in 2014 and headquartered in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. The company sources and supplies branded, generic, and over-the-counter human medicines, medical devices, clinical trial supplies, nutritional and cosmetic ingredients, and parallel-import products to more than 20,000 pharmacy groups, hospitals, wholesalers, government health departments, NGOs, and contract research organisations across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Acme operates under a UK MHRA Wholesale Distribution Authorisation (Human) and EU Good Distribution Practice (GDP) standards, with state-of-the-art temperature-controlled and ambient storage facilities supporting cold chain and ambient product handling.
The company's product portfolio spans core pharmaceutical wholesale alongside sub-categories including branded pharma, medical devices and equipment (diagnostic test kits, surgical instruments, anaesthetic machines, imaging equipment), clinical trial supply (sourcing, packaging, labelling, distribution), parallel imports, and unlicensed medicines rapid-procurement services. Underlying technical capabilities are centred on licensed temperature-controlled warehousing and a regulated distribution network rather than proprietary software or AI platforms. Revenue mechanics are transaction-based with quote-based, non-publicly-disclosed pricing and variable minimum order quantities by product. GTM is predominantly direct enterprise field sales augmented by a licensed distribution network, with marketing conducted through the corporate website, enquiry forms, and trade exhibitions.
Acme Pharma is privately held with 11-50 employees, no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and no M&A activity recorded. Material growth signals date to 2016 (warehouse capacity expansion) and 2018 (40% workforce increase), with the business now appearing to operate as a mature, specialist mid-market wholesaler rather than a high-growth platform. The competitive position rests primarily on regulatory licensing, supplier relationships with major international branded pharmaceutical producers, and operational compliance rather than technology differentiation.
Acme Pharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Acme Pharma
- Legal name
- Acme Pharma Limited
- Website
- https://acmepharma.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Acme Pharma Limited is a UK-based MHRA-licensed pharmaceutical wholesaler, founded in 2014, supplying branded and generic medicines, medical devices, and clinical trial products to over 20,000 pharmacies, hospitals, wholesalers, governments, and NGOs across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Acme Pharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution
- NAICS
- Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (424210), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (4242), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421), Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423450), Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42345)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122), Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Full-Line Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (HLAIAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Specialty Pharmaceutical Distributors (HLAIAJAB), Specialty Pharma & Biologics Distribution (GDP-compliant) (HLAGAMAD), OTC & Consumer Health Distributors (HLAIAJAC), Medical Supplies & Consumables Wholesale (Non-Device) (CRAOAHAE)
Keywords
Where Acme Pharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Welwyn Garden City
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Acme Pharma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution: Sourcing and supplying Human Medicines, Aesthetics, and Medical Devices through wholesale distribution to pharmacies, hospitals, wholesalers, and healthcare entities. They supply branded, generic, and over-the-counter medicines, as well as parallel import products and pharmaceutical equipment.
- Medical Devices Supply: Supply of medical devices including test kits (Covid-19, diabetes, fertility, pregnancy, etc.), medical equipment, hypodermics, and application devices.
- Clinical Trial Supply: End-to-end solutions for clinical trial supply including sourcing, packaging, labelling, storage, distribution and temperature-controlled transportation of pharmaceuticals and components for trials.
- Branded Pharma Supply: Supply of branded pharmaceuticals sourced from international suppliers. Working with major pharmaceutical companies and specialty organisations globally.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Acme Pharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Acme Pharma Limited is a UK-based licensed pharmaceutical wholesaler that sources, stores, and distributes branded, generic, and over-the-counter human medicines, medical devices, and clinical trial supplies to pharmacies, hospitals, wholesalers, government health departments, and NGOs. The company also supplies parallel import products, nutritional ingredients, excipients, and cosmetic ingredients, supported by MHRA Wholesale Dealers Authorisation, EU Good Distribution Practice compliance, and temperature-controlled cold chain storage at its Welwyn Garden City warehouse.
Product overview
Acme Pharma Limited is a wholesale pharmaceutical company offering a unified platform of sourcing and distribution services for the healthcare industry. The core offering is Pharmaceutical Supply (branded, generic, and OTC medicines), complemented by Medical Devices and Equipment, Clinical Trials Supply, and specialised services including Tender/Government Supply and Unlicensed Medicines. Products are sourced globally from major international suppliers and distributed through a licensed network compliant with MHRA and GDP guidelines, with storage facilities in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. The company serves over 20,000 Pharmacy Groups, Hospitals, Wholesalers, and healthcare entities across the UK, Europe, Middle East, and Asia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pharmaceutical Supply
Quantifiable outcome
- Supplied products to approximately 85% of the UK pharmaceutical sector over a decade of operation
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Acme Pharma
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Acme Pharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Acme Pharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Acme Pharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lexon (UK) Limited: Lexon is a UK-based MHRA-licensed pharmaceutical wholesaler supplying parallel imports, generics and unlicensed medicines to pharmacies and hospitals. Closely matches Acme's specialty/parallel-import wholesale model and customer base of independent pharmacies.
- BAP Pharma: BAP Pharma is a UK-based pharmaceutical distributor specialising in comparator sourcing and clinical trial supply, holding WDA and MHRA licences. Highly comparable to Acme's clinical trials supply sub-category and direct competitor for trial sponsor contracts.
- Clinigen Group: Clinigen is a UK-headquartered specialty pharma services company providing unlicensed and managed-access medicines plus clinical trial supply globally. Overlaps directly with Acme's unlicensed medicines rapid procurement and clinical trial end-to-end service lines, with a much larger global footprint.
- Smartway Pharmaceuticals: Smartway is a UK MHRA-licensed pharmaceutical wholesaler focused on parallel imports, branded and generic medicines supplied to UK and EU pharmacies. Directly comparable to Acme's parallel import product line and independent pharmacy customer base.
- Durbin PLC: Durbin is a UK-based pharmaceutical wholesaler and clinical trial supply specialist with MHRA WDA and GDP compliance, serving pharma companies, CROs and hospitals. Direct overlap with Acme's clinical trial supply and unlicensed medicines offerings.
- Mawdsleys: Mawdsleys is a UK-based independent pharmaceutical wholesaler specialising in branded, generic and unlicensed medicine supply to pharmacies, hospitals and clinical trial sponsors. Very closely comparable to Acme as a similarly sized MHRA-licensed full-line wholesaler with parallel import and specialty supply.
- Sigma Pharmaceuticals: Sigma Pharmaceuticals is a UK-based wholesale supplier of branded, generic and parallel-import medicines, OTC products and pharmacy services to independent pharmacies. Closely matches Acme's product mix and pharmacy group target segment.
Broad incumbents
- Alliance Healthcare (Walgreens Boots Alliance): Alliance Healthcare is the UK distribution arm of Walgreens Boots Alliance and one of the country's dominant full-line pharmaceutical wholesalers, serving pharmacies, hospitals and manufacturers with MHRA-licensed GDP-compliant distribution. Same core business as Acme at significantly larger scale, plus retail pharmacy ownership.
- Phoenix Group: Phoenix Group is one of Europe's largest pharmaceutical wholesale and retail pharmacy groups, operating across the UK and continental Europe with parallel-import and branded/generic distribution. Comparable to Acme's pan-European pharma distribution footprint with overlapping parallel-import capabilities.
- AAH Pharmaceuticals (Cencora): AAH is the UK's largest pharmaceutical wholesaler and a division of Cencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen), distributing branded, generic and OTC medicines to pharmacies and hospitals under full MHRA/GDP compliance. Directly comparable to Acme's core pharma wholesale offering but at vastly greater scale and with broader value-added services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Acme Pharma social profiles
Digital presenceAcme Pharma compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Acme Pharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Acme Pharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Acme Pharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Acme Pharma 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 Acme Pharma
What does Acme Pharma do?
Acme Pharma Limited is a UK-based licensed pharmaceutical wholesaler that sources, stores, and distributes branded, generic, and over-the-counter human medicines, medical devices, and clinical trial supplies to pharmacies, hospitals, wholesalers, government health departments, and NGOs. The company also supplies parallel import products, nutritional ingredients, excipients, and cosmetic ingredients, supported by MHRA Wholesale Dealers Authorisation, EU Good Distribution Practice compliance, and temperature-controlled cold chain storage at its Welwyn Garden City warehouse.
Is Acme Pharma a public or private company?
Acme Pharma is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Acme Pharma founded?
Acme Pharma was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Acme Pharma based?
Acme Pharma is headquartered in Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Acme Pharma make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution is the primary driver. The others are medical Devices Supply, clinical Trial Supply and branded Pharma Supply.
Who are Acme Pharma's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lexon (UK) Limited, BAP Pharma, Clinigen Group, Smartway Pharmaceuticals, Durbin PLC, Mawdsleys and Sigma Pharmaceuticals. Broad incumbents are Alliance Healthcare (Walgreens Boots Alliance), Phoenix Group and AAH Pharmaceuticals (Cencora).
Does Acme Pharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for Acme Pharma.
What industry is Acme Pharma in?
Acme Pharma's product category is Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAJAA, Full-Line Pharmaceutical Wholesalers, with a secondary code of HLAIAJAB, Specialty Pharmaceutical Distributors. Its NAICS code is 424210 and its SIC code is 5122.