Profarma
Profarma is a Brazilian pharmaceutical wholesaler founded in 1961, operating a vertically integrated distribution platform that combines the owned d1000 retail pharmacy chain with high-complexity medication logistics, following its 2026 acquisition of 4Bio from RD Saúde.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1961
- HeadquartersBarra Da Tijuca, Brazil
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Profarma does
Profarma is a Brazilian pharmaceutical wholesaler founded in 1961, headquartered in Barra Da Tijuca, and publicly listed on B3 under ticker PFRM3. The company employs between 1,001 and 5,000 people and operates a horizontally segmented distribution model serving pharmacy chains and healthcare providers across Brazil. Its core asset base is a logistics infrastructure built for distributing high-complexity and specialty medications, complemented by direct-to-consumer reach through the owned d1000 retail pharmacy chain, which provides a vertically integrated wholesale-to-retail pipeline uncommon among pure-play distributors.
Profarma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Profarma
- Legal name
- Profarma
- Website
- https://profarma.com.br
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1961
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Profarma is a Brazilian pharmaceutical wholesaler founded in 1961, operating a vertically integrated distribution platform that combines the owned d1000 retail pharmacy chain with high-complexity medication logistics, following its 2026 acquisition of 4Bio from RD Saúde.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Profarma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pharmaceutical Distribution
- NAICS
- Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (424210), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (4242), Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (456110), Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (45611)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122), Retail-Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores (5912)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Pharmacy & Biologics Distribution (CRAOAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Prescription Pharmaceutical (Rx) Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAHAA), Specialty Pharma & Biologics Distribution (GDP-compliant) (HLAGAMAD), Specialty Pharmacies (Complex/High-Cost Therapies) (HLAFALAC)
Keywords
Where Profarma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barra Da Tijuca
- HQ country
- Brazil
- HQ region
- Latin America
Markets served
Profarma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure
Distribution channels1 record
Profarma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Profarma is a Brazilian pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor that supplies medications to pharmacy chains and healthcare providers, and operates the d1000 retail pharmacy chain. It also distributes high-complexity/specialty medications, having re-entered that segment through the acquisition of 4Bio.
Product overview
Profarma is a pharmaceutical distribution company operating across multiple segments. The company owns the d1000 pharmacy chain (retail segment) and has recently expanded into specialty/high-complexity medication distribution through the acquisition of 4Bio from RD Saúde. Profarma previously operated a specialty distribution business under the Profarma Specialty brand, which was sold to Viveo in 2021, making this acquisition a strategic return to the specialty distribution market. The combined operations are expected to generate approximately R$ 15 billion in annual distribution revenue.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- d1000: Pharmacy chain owned by Profarma.
Products and services
- d1000 A retail pharmacy chain operated by Profarma, representing the company's direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical retail segment in Brazil.
- 4Bio High-complexity/specialty medication distribution business acquired from RD Saude, distributing specialty pharmaceuticals to pharmacy chains and healthcare providers. Reported LTM revenue of R$ 3.4 billion with 15% annual growth since 2023.
- Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution Distribution and logistics of pharmaceutical products to pharmacy chains and healthcare providers across Brazil, including infrastructure for high-value and temperature-sensitive medications.
Companies that use Profarma
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Profarma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Profarma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- RD SaúdecoreProfarma acquired 4Bio, the high-complexity medication distribution business of RD Saúde, for R$ 520 million equity value (R$ 600 million enterprise value). The acquisition is structured as six equal cash installments of R$ 100 million over five years, subject to CADE (Brazilian antitrust authority) approval. This marks Profarma's return to specialty distribution segment.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Profarma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Pague Menos: Large Brazilian retail pharmacy chain with associated distribution operations. Comparable to Profarma's d1000 retail arm and overall pharmaceutical distribution footprint in Brazil.
- DPSP (Drogarias Pacheco / São Paulo): Major Brazilian pharmacy chain with significant distribution and retail operations. Comparable to Profarma as a combined retail/distribution pharmaceutical business in the Brazilian market.
Broad incumbents
- EMS Pharma: Brazil's largest domestic pharmaceutical manufacturer with a significant distribution arm. Comparable to Profarma as a major player in Brazil's pharmaceutical supply chain with both branded products and distribution reach.
- Eurofarma: Major Brazilian pharmaceutical manufacturer with growing specialty/biologics capabilities. Comparable to Profarma as a domestic pharma participant with both manufacturing and distribution exposure.
- McKesson: Global pharmaceutical distribution leader with a specialty/biologics distribution franchise comparable to the 4Bio business Profarma is acquiring. Useful benchmark for specialty distribution economics and growth.
- Cardinal Health: US-based pharmaceutical wholesaler with nuclear pharmacy, specialty distribution, and at-Home Solutions businesses. Comparable to Profarma as a diversified pharmaceutical distributor with specialty exposure.
- Cencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen): One of the world's largest pharmaceutical distributors and an existing Profarma investor since 2014. Direct comparable as a global specialty pharma wholesaler and source of operational benchmarks for Profarma's distribution business.
- Hypera Pharma: Largest Brazilian pharmaceutical company by market share with branded, generic, and consumer health portfolios alongside significant distribution scale. Comparable to Profarma as a major Brazilian pharma supply chain participant.
Direct peers
- Viveo: Brazilian healthcare products distributor that acquired Profarma Specialty from Profarma in 2021. Viveo is now a direct competitor in specialty/high-complexity pharmaceutical distribution, occupying the niche Profarma is re-entering.
- RD Saúde (Raia Drogasil): Brazil's largest pharmacy chain and the former parent of the 4Bio specialty distribution business Profarma is acquiring. RD Saúde operates both retail pharmacies and wholesale distribution, directly overlapping with Profarma's distribution-plus-d1000 retail model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Profarma social profiles
Digital presenceProfarma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Profarma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profarma subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Profarma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Profarma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Profarma
What does Profarma do?
Profarma is a Brazilian pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor that supplies medications to pharmacy chains and healthcare providers, and operates the d1000 retail pharmacy chain. It also distributes high-complexity/specialty medications, having re-entered that segment through the acquisition of 4Bio.
Is Profarma a public or private company?
Profarma is a private company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Profarma founded?
Profarma was founded in 1961. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Profarma based?
Profarma is headquartered in Barra Da Tijuca, Brazil, in the Latin America region.
Who are Profarma's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Pague Menos and DPSP (Drogarias Pacheco / São Paulo). Broad incumbents are EMS Pharma, Eurofarma, McKesson, Cardinal Health, Cencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen) and Hypera Pharma. Direct peers are Viveo and RD Saúde (Raia Drogasil).
Does Profarma have an API?
No public API is recorded for Profarma.
What industry is Profarma in?
Profarma's product category is Pharmaceutical Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAOAHAD, Specialty Pharmacy & Biologics Distribution, with a secondary code of CRAOAHAA, Prescription Pharmaceutical (Rx) Wholesale Distribution. Its NAICS code is 424210 and its SIC code is 5122.