Originalis
Originalis is a European pharmaceutical company that parallel-imports original branded medicines from lower-priced EU member states and repackaging them for sale at lower prices to community pharmacies, hospitals, wholesalers, and health insurers across Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands. It is a subsidiary of Abacus Medicine Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersAlkmaar, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Originalis does
Originalis is a European pharmaceutical company specializing in the parallel importation of original branded medicines, sourcing products from lower-priced EU member states and repackaging them for sale at lower prices in higher-priced markets. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Alkmaar, Netherlands, the company operates through three national entities (Originalis GmbH in Germany, Originalis BV in the Netherlands, and Originalis Ireland) with a production and repackaging facility in Hungary that processes over 75,000 medicine packs per month. Originalis is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abacus Medicine Group, a Danish pharmaceutical group founded in Copenhagen in 2004 that generated EUR 1,487 million in revenue in 2024 with over 1,600 employees.
The company's core offering is parallel-imported original medicines (as distinct from generics or counterfeit products), including General Medical Service (GMS) items and higher-value High Tech specialty pharmaceuticals such as biologics and injectables. A proprietary IT system continuously analyzes pricing data across 14 European markets to identify arbitrage opportunities, while a Quality Management System supported by roughly 100 quality assurance employees in Germany enforces compliance with the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (2011/62/EU), SecurPharm verification, and country-specific repackaging requirements. Fresh packaging is designed for each destination market with local labeling and patient information leaflets.
Originalis serves four distinct customer segments: community pharmacies, hospital pharmacies (including through the Irish HSE High Tech Hub), pharmaceutical wholesalers (in Germany via major wholesalers), and health insurance providers. The go-to-market is primarily B2B sales-led, with Key Account Managers driving pharmacy acquisition and portfolio consultations, supported by monthly email newsletters and online account-opening workflows. Distribution is hybrid: in Germany products are sold through major wholesalers, while in Ireland a strategic partnership with Pluripharm Ireland (formalized July 2025, both Abacus Medicine Group subsidiaries) handles order processing and provides next-day delivery to pharmacies and hospitals. Revenue is generated through margin earned on price arbitrage between EU markets under a transaction-based commercial model.
Originalis firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Originalis
- Legal name
- Originalis GmbH
- Website
- https://originalis.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Originalis is a European pharmaceutical company that parallel-imports original branded medicines from lower-priced EU member states and repackaging them for sale at lower prices to community pharmacies, hospitals, wholesalers, and health insurers across Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands. It is a subsidiary of Abacus Medicine Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Originalis industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pharmaceutical Parallel Import Distribution
- SIC
- Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122), Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biologics & Biosimilars Distributors (HLAIAJAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAA)
Keywords
Where Originalis is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alkmaar
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Originalis business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Parallel Import Medicine Sales: Revenue generated from importing original branded medicines from lower-priced EU markets and selling them at competitive prices in Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands. Products are repackaged for local market requirements including country-specific labeling and package leaflets. Margin earned through price arbitrage between EU member states.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | GMS and High Tech products for Irish pharmacies |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Originalis product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Originalis is a parallel importer of original branded medicines, sourcing pharmaceuticals from lower-priced EU member states and repackaging them for distribution in Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The company operates a repackaging facility in Hungary with monthly capacity of over 75,000 medicine packs and uses proprietary IT systems to identify the most cost-effective sourcing across 14 European markets. Products are sold to pharmacies, wholesalers, and hospitals at competitive prices versus domestic equivalents.
Product overview
Originalis operates as a parallel importer of original pharmaceutical products, sourcing medicines from lower-priced EU markets and repackaging them for Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The core offering is parallel-imported original medicines (as opposed to generic or counterfeit products), available through a network of major wholesalers and distribution partners. In Ireland, Originalis works with Pluripharm Ireland for order processing and next-day delivery. The product portfolio focuses on GMS and High Tech (specialty) products, including injectable medications, tablets, and biologics. The company differentiates itself through quality control processes including SecurPharm verification, fresh new packaging designed for each market, and a recycling program for sustainable packaging waste.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Parallel Imported Original Medicines Original pharmaceutical products imported from other EU countries where they are priced lower and repackaged with country-specific labeling, package leaflets, and fresh packaging for German, Irish, and Dutch markets. Products undergo SecurPharm verification and Falsified Medicines Directive compliance checks. Sold to pharmacies, wholesalers, and hospitals.
- GMS (General Medical Service) Products General Medical Service pharmaceutical products available for Irish community pharmacies holding valid PSI and GMS numbers, offered at competitive pricing through the parallel import model.
- High Tech Pharmaceutical Products Specialty pharmaceutical products including biologics and advanced therapies such as injectable medications and treatments for diabetes, immunology, and antiviral indications. Available to Irish pharmacies and hospitals; ordered through HSE High Tech Hub system for hospital orders, with non-Hub products ordered directly.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 75,000 medicine packs repackaged monthly at production facility
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Originalis
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Originalis technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
Originalis partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Pluripharm IrelandcoreStrategic collaboration between Originalis Ireland and Pluripharm Ireland, both subsidiaries of Abacus Medicine Group, officially joined forces in July 2025. Combines Originalis' established presence in the Irish healthcare market with Pluripharm Ireland's deep expertise in pharmaceutical distribution. Pluripharm Ireland processes all orders and provides next-day delivery to pharmacies and hospitals throughout Ireland. Expanded portfolio of GMS and High Tech products now available at significantly more competitive prices.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Originalis competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Phoenix Group: One of Europe's largest pharmaceutical distribution groups, headquartered in Mannheim, Germany. Operates parallel trade entities and competes for the same downstream pharmacy customers across multiple EU countries where Originalis operates.
- Alliance Healthcare (Walgreens Boots Alliance): Major European pharmaceutical wholesaler and parallel distribution operator with broader footprint including UK, France, and other EU markets. Comparable business model on the wholesale side but operates at much larger scale and includes full-line distribution beyond parallel imports.
Direct peers
- Pluripharm: Sister company under Abacus Medicine Group and current distribution partner for Originalis in Ireland. Operates parallel distribution model with overlap in product portfolio, customer base (pharmacies), and regulatory infrastructure.
- Abacus Medicine: Sister company under Abacus Medicine Group operating parallel distribution services across Europe. Most directly comparable peer given identical business model (parallel import of original medicines), overlapping supplier relationships, and shared data infrastructure.
- CC Pharma: German parallel importer of original pharmaceuticals with similar sourcing model across EU markets. Competes head-to-head with Originalis in Germany and offers directly comparable High Tech and specialty products.
- kohlpharma: One of the largest German parallel importers of original pharmaceuticals, headquartered in Merzig. Directly competes with Originalis in the German market on identical product categories (branded originals) via the same wholesale distribution channel.
- Haemopharm: Italy-based parallel pharmaceutical importer with similar model of sourcing original medicines across EU and repackaging locally. Competes for the same EU-wide supplier pool and provides comparable regulatory repackaging services.
Regional players
- ABDA Pharma Aktiv: German pharmacy-affiliated parallel import entity part of the ABDA network. Competes in the German parallel import market specifically with emphasis on pharmacy-channel relationships; overlaps with Originalis's German wholesale customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Originalis social profiles
Digital presenceOriginalis compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Originalis financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Originalis leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Originalis funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Originalis 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 Originalis
What does Originalis do?
Originalis is a parallel importer of original branded medicines, sourcing pharmaceuticals from lower-priced EU member states and repackaging them for distribution in Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The company operates a repackaging facility in Hungary with monthly capacity of over 75,000 medicine packs and uses proprietary IT systems to identify the most cost-effective sourcing across 14 European markets. Products are sold to pharmacies, wholesalers, and hospitals at competitive prices versus domestic equivalents.
Is Originalis a public or private company?
Originalis is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Originalis founded?
Originalis was founded in 2004. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Originalis based?
Originalis is headquartered in Alkmaar, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Originalis make money?
One revenue line is on record: parallel Import Medicine Sales.
Who are Originalis's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Phoenix Group and Alliance Healthcare (Walgreens Boots Alliance). Direct peers are Pluripharm, Abacus Medicine, CC Pharma, kohlpharma and Haemopharm. ABDA Pharma Aktiv is listed as a regional player.
Does Originalis have an API?
No public API is recorded for Originalis.
What industry is Originalis in?
Originalis's product category is Pharmaceutical Parallel Import Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAJAH, Biologics & Biosimilars Distributors, with a secondary code of HLAIAAAA, Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals. Its SIC code is 5122.