Interfarma

What Interfarma does

Interfarma (Associação da Indústria Farmacêutica de Pesquisa) is a Brazilian non-profit civil association founded in 1990 and headquartered in São Paulo. It represents national and international pharmaceutical research companies active in innovative drug development in Brazil — its members accounted for an average 46% of the domestic pharmaceutical market between 2017 and 2021. The association delivers services through six core offerings: the Espaço Interfarma digital member portal; the Código de Conduta (Code of Conduct) with its independent Ethics Council, Corregedoria, and Conciliation Sphere; the Guias Interfarma compliance guidance library; the KEEN knowledge-expansion program co-developed with ANVISA's COPEC; the IP – Inovação e Pesquisa public-awareness campaign; and Patient Support Program advocacy.

Its business model is membership-funded and non-commercial: revenue derives from member-company dues rather than product sales or transaction fees. The value proposition rests on three pillars — sector representation before regulators (ANVISA, CFM, AMB, SBC, INPI, the STF), self-regulatory compliance infrastructure (the only pharmaceutical Code of Conduct validated by Brazilian medical councils), and public-policy advocacy on pharmaceutical IP and patient access. Multi-channel outreach (website, Espaço Interfarma blog, Instagram, LinkedIn, newsletters, webinars, conferences) supports both member engagement and external campaigns.

Recent strategic posture centers on institutional renewal — the 2020 30th-anniversary identity refresh, the 2021 fifth-version Code of Conduct, the 2025 35th-anniversary 'rebirth' under presidente-executivo Renato Alencar Porto, and expanded advocacy coalitions (CNCP, Business Coalition against Disinformation). The leadership transition from President Elizabeth de Carvalhaes (per disclosed management team) to Renato Alencar Porto signals an active generational handover at the top of the association.

Name

Interfarma

Legal name

Associação da Indústria Farmacêutica de Pesquisa

Website

https://interfarma.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Interfarma is a Brazilian non-profit trade association founded in 1990 that represents pharmaceutical research companies (covering 46% of the domestic market), delivering ethical-compliance frameworks, clinical-research education with ANVISA, and policy advocacy on drug access and intellectual property.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Industry Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health Governance, Interagency Coordination & Partnerships (HLAJAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical industry association
• Code of conduct compliance
• Patient access programs
• Clinical research advocacy
• Healthcare policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo, São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Interfarma is a non-profit civil association representing research-based pharmaceutical companies in Brazil. It delivers a Code of Conduct compliance program, ethics oversight (Ethics Council, Corregedoria, Conciliation Sphere), industry advocacy, clinical research education via the KEEN program with ANVISA's COPEC, and policy/regulatory representation for innovative pharmaceutical R&D.

Product overview

Interfarma is a non-profit association representing research pharmaceutical companies in Brazil, offering compliance programs, member resources, and patient access initiatives rather than traditional product offerings. Its core portfolio includes the Code of Conduct with independent Ethics Council, educational resources through Espaço Interfarma, the KEEN knowledge expansion program, patient support programs, and public awareness campaigns such as IP – Inovação e Pesquisa. The association facilitates pharmaceutical innovation and healthcare access through policy advocacy, compliance guidance, and collaborative initiatives with regulatory authorities like ANVISA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IP - Inovação e Pesquisa: Campaign to clarify how Intellectual Property can improve Brazilians' access to modern medicines and therapies, in addition to bringing economic benefits to the country.

Products and services

• Código de Conduta (Code of Conduct) Self-regulatory compliance service governing relationships between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals in Brazil, with an independent Ethics Council, Corregedoria (Internal Affairs), and Conciliation Sphere; includes compliance training and validation by CFM, AMB, and SBC.
• KEEN Program (KnowledgE ExpaNsion Program) Educational service delivered in partnership with ANVISA's Clinical Research Coordination (COPEC) that conducts virtual discussion forums on clinical research topics for industry and regulatory professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Members represent 46% of domestic pharmaceutical market on average (2017-2021)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• COPEC/Anvisa (Clinical Research Coordination)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020Partnership to launch KEEN (KnowledgE ExpaNsion Program) - a knowledge expansion initiative for ANVISA's Clinical Research Coordination. The program conducts virtual discussion forums with national and international specialists on clinical research topics including Risk-Based Monitoring, Quality Production, Clinical Development, Vaccines, and Rare Diseases.
• Sindusfarma (Pharmaceutical Products Industry Union)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of the Brazilian LGPD Guide for the Pharmaceutical Industry to help companies comply with Brazil's General Personal Data Protection Law. Led by Dr. Fernando Santiago.
• IFPMA (International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlignment with IFPMA ETHOS code adopted in 2019. Interfarma shares values and principles of ethical conduct for pharmaceutical industry interactions with scientific community and patients. Code of Practice aligned with international standards.
• CNCP (Conselho Nacional de Combate à Pirataria)minorOthersInterfarma joined CNCP to expand contribution to combating piracy and defending innovation in the pharmaceutical sector.
• Coalizão Empresarial contra a DesinformaçãominorOthersInterfarma joined the Business Coalition against Disinformation to contribute to fighting misinformation in the healthcare sector.
• ISMP BrasilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfarma participated in the II Simpósio sobre Uso Seguro de Medicamentos na Atenção Primária e Secundária (Symposium on Safe Use of Medicines), presenting research on access to essential oncology medicines in SUS.
• CFM (Conselho Federal de Medicina)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerValidation partnership for Interfarma's Code of Conduct since 2012, along with AMB and SBC, making it the first pharmaceutical industry code validated by medical councils.
• AMB (Associação Médica Brasileira)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-validated Interfarma's Code of Conduct along with CFM and SBC.
• SBC (Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-validated Interfarma's Code of Conduct along with CFM and AMB.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• PhRMA: PhRMA represents research-based biopharmaceutical companies in the United States and advocates for medical innovation, intellectual property, clinical research, and access. It is a broad incumbent peer with the same industry-association and member-engagement model, but a larger geography and constituency.
• IFPMA: IFPMA is the global federation of research-based pharmaceutical companies and associations, with work spanning ethics, innovation, health policy, and patient access. It is a broad incumbent peer because it shares Interfarma's compliance and advocacy model at global scale.
• EFPIA: EFPIA is the European federation of research-based pharmaceutical companies, covering innovation, regulation, health policy, and industry ethics. It is a broad regional peer because both organizations convene pharmaceutical companies and translate sector needs into policy, standards, and member services.

Regional players

• Farmaindustria: Farmaindustria is the Spanish innovative-pharmaceutical industry association representing manufacturers and promoting research, access, and ethical collaboration. It is a regional peer because its national association structure and advocacy remit closely track Interfarma's, although it serves Spain rather than Brazil.
• Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association: The Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association represents research-based pharmaceutical manufacturers and coordinates policy, quality, and industry standards. It is a regional peer with a similar association model and innovation and compliance focus.
• Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry: The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry represents UK research-based pharmaceutical companies and works on research, regulation, access, and industry reputation. It is a regional peer with a comparable membership and policy-advocacy model.

Direct peers

• Alanac: Alanac is the Brazilian association of national pharmaceutical laboratories. It is a direct domestic peer because it represents pharmaceutical manufacturers, supports industry interests, and provides a member-association layer alongside Interfarma.
• FIFARMA: FIFARMA is the Latin American federation of pharmaceutical industry associations, coordinating regional advocacy, access, and industry standards. It is a direct regional peer because its member associations and institutional mission closely resemble Interfarma's industry-representation role.
• Grupo FarmaBrasil: Grupo FarmaBrasil brings together Brazilian pharmaceutical companies around competitiveness, innovation, and sector advocacy. It is a direct local peer in market access, policy representation, and pharmaceutical-industry community building.
• Sindusfarma: Sindusfarma is a Brazilian pharmaceutical-products industry union representing manufacturers and advancing industry policy, compliance, and member services. It is a direct domestic peer because it operates in the same pharmaceutical ecosystem and performs similar representation, education, and stakeholder-facing functions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubebit.ly/37aRYOQ
• Instagraminstagram.com/interfarmaoficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associacaointerfarma

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Interfarma