UNIVERS

What UNIVERS does

UNIVERS is the corporate pharmacy benefit management (PBM) division of RD Saúde, Brazil's largest pharmacy retailer, operating through the Raia and Drogasil chains with a combined 200+ years of market history. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in São Paulo, Univers administers medication discount and health service benefit programs for 2,100+ corporate employer clients and processes approximately 8.6 million beneficiary transactions per month across 3,000+ affiliated pharmacy locations nationwide.

The product portfolio centers on two subscription tiers: PBM Básico, a zero-cost-to-employer plan offering guaranteed minimum discounts on 7,000+ branded and generic medications, 30% discounts on health services, and biometric/token-secured payroll deduction; and PBM Acelerado (Care), an enhanced tier launched in 2023 covering 40,000+ medications including OTC, 50%+ discounts plus gratuity on health services, pharmaceutical treatment support with adherence reminders, population health profiling, and customizable care-line discounts for conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Supporting infrastructure includes the Portal Gestor corporate administration platform with Health Analytics reporting, a mobile app with virtual benefit cards for beneficiaries, and a Vacinação Corporativa service delivering on-site and in-pharmacy corporate vaccination programs across 400+ vaccination rooms.

Univers monetizes through three streams: transaction-based commissions on pharmacy purchases at Raia and Drogasil locations, recurring subscription/administration fees from corporate clients, and professional services revenue from vaccination campaigns. Distribution is omnichannel, combining physical pharmacy access, e-commerce (drogaraia.com.br, drogasil.com.br), native mobile apps, and televendas for beneficiaries, plus direct enterprise sales and a partner referral program for B2B acquisition. The benefit is integrated with RD Saúde's broader health ecosystem (Manipulê, Labi Exames, 4Bio, Vitat, Cuco Health, Enloopz, Stix), and the company is LGPD-compliant. Univers operates as an internally funded subsidiary of the RD Saúde conglomerate with no disclosed external investors, funding rounds, or public listing.

Name

UNIVERS

Legal name

Univers

Website

https://univers-pbm.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UNIVERS is the corporate pharmacy benefit management division of RD Saúde (parent of Brazil's Raia and Drogasil pharmacy chains), administering medication discount and health service benefit programs for 2,100+ employer clients and processing 8.6 million monthly transactions across 3,000+ pharmacy locations in Brazil.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmacy Benefit Management

NAICS

Pharmacy Benefit Management and Other Third Party Administration of Insurance and Pension Funds (524292)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

PBM Technology Platforms (ePA/eRx/Real-Time Benefit Tools) (HLAEAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pharmacy Benefit Analytics, Reporting & Employer Consulting (HLAEAKAK), Claims Processing, Adjudication & Payment Integrity (HLAEAKAC), Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) & Pharmacy Network Administration (HLAFALAI)

Keywords

• Pharmacy benefit management
• Corporate health benefits
• Pharmacy network services
• Employee benefits administration
• Corporate vaccination services

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Transaction-based commissions: Revenue generated from pharmacy transactions when beneficiaries use the Univers benefit at Raia and Drogasil pharmacies. Company earns commissions on medication and health product purchases made through the PBM.
2. Corporate benefit administration fees: Monthly or annual fees paid by corporate clients for access to the benefit management portal and administration tools. PBM Acelerado includes subsidy management features.
3. Corporate vaccination services: Revenue from vaccination campaigns for corporate clients, condominiums, and associations. Includes vaccination at pharmacy locations or on-site at client premises.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

UNIVERS is a pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company that administers corporate pharmacy and vaccination benefit programs for Brazilian employers, contracting with a nationwide network of more than 3,000 pharmacies to deliver subsidized medications, manage transactions, and run corporate vaccination services. Its offering spans entry-level benefits (PBM Básico), an enhanced paid program (PBM Acelerado/Care), a corporate vaccination service, and digital administration tools (Portal Gestor and the Univers mobile app) used by HR teams and beneficiaries.

Product overview

UNIVERS is a pharmacy benefit management (PBM) solution offered by RD Saúde (parent company of Drogasil and Raia pharmacies). The product portfolio consists of two core tiers: PBM Básico providing basic medication discounts with payroll deduction, and PBM Acelerado (Care) offering enhanced accelerated discounts, treatment support, and population health analytics. Additional offerings include Vacinação Corporativa for corporate vaccination services and a Portal Gestor for employer benefit administration. The service covers over 3,000 pharmacies nationwide and processes approximately 8.6 million monthly transactions across its pharmacy network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PBM Básico: Basic pharmaceutical benefit plan offering guaranteed minimum discounts, coverage of branded and generic medications, 30% discount on health services, and payroll deduction with biometric or token validation.
• PBM Acelerado (Care)

Products and services

• PBM Básico Entry-level pharmacy benefit management program offered to corporate clients at no cost, providing employees access to subsidized medications through UNIVERS's affiliated pharmacy network.
• PBM Acelerado (Care) Enhanced paid pharmacy benefit management program offered to corporate clients, providing broader medication coverage, faster service, and additional care services to employees through the UNIVERS pharmacy network.
• Vacinação Corporativa Corporate vaccination service delivered to employer clients, enabling employees to receive vaccinations through the UNIVERS pharmacy network as part of their workplace health benefits program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8.6 million monthly transactions processed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RD SaúdecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and strategic umbrella organization for the Univers pharmacy benefit. RD Saúde comprises Raia, Drogasil, and multiple health brands. Univers operates as the corporate benefit division of RD Saúde.
• RaiacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor pharmacy chain brand within RD Saúde with 1500+ locations. Primary retail channel for Univers benefit fulfillment with dedicated vaccination rooms and pharmaceutical services.
• DrogasilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor pharmacy chain brand within RD Saúde with 1500+ locations. Primary retail channel for Univers benefit fulfillment with dedicated vaccination rooms and pharmaceutical services.
• Clube CertominorGTM or Marketing PartnerLoyalty and employee benefits platform that partners with Univers to offer pharmacy benefits to their users and employees nationwide.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Express Scripts (Cigna Group): One of the largest US PBMs, serving health plans, employers, and government clients with pharmacy benefit administration and negotiated pricing. Comparable PBM business model though at vastly greater scale and geographic scope.
• Medimpact Healthcare Systems: Large US-based independent PBM providing pharmacy benefit management to health plans, employers, and government programs. Comparable core PBM capabilities (claims processing, formulary management, analytics) and B2B employer-customer model.
• Optum Rx (UnitedHealth Group): PBM division of UnitedHealth Group serving large employer, health plan, and government customers with pharmacy benefits, analytics, and care management. Comparable PBM platform capabilities though embedded within a much larger payor/insurer.
• CarelonRx (Elevance Health): PBM arm of Elevance Health offering integrated pharmacy benefits, specialty pharmacy, and analytics to health plan and employer customers. Comparable PBM and analytics services targeting similar B2B buyers.

Regional players

• SulAmérica Saúde: Large Brazilian health insurer offering group health plans to corporate clients. Comparable Brazilian corporate health benefits market and overlapping customer base with Univers, though primarily an insurer rather than a PBM.
• Hapvida NotreDame Intermédica: Major Brazilian integrated healthcare operator with health plans and provider networks serving corporate and individual clients. Comparable Brazilian corporate health benefit market, though operating more broadly across insurance and care delivery.

Emerging players

• Capital Rx: US-based, tech-forward PBM using a transparent technology platform to serve employers, unions, and health plans. Comparable focus on employer clients and a differentiated PBM technology stack, though at earlier scale.
• Navitus Health Solutions: Independent PBM providing transparent pharmacy benefit management to health plans, employers, and government clients. Comparable B2B PBM model with emphasis on value-based formulary and clinical programs.

Direct peers

• Wellcabral PBM: Brazilian pharmacy benefit management company offering corporate pharmacy benefits with its own pharmacy network and digital tools. Most directly comparable to Univers as a Brazil-focused B2B PBM serving employer clients.
• Funcional Health: Brazilian corporate health and pharmacy benefits provider offering medication discount programs and health management services to employer clients. Comparable product offering and Brazilian B2B distribution model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@universpbm2903
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universpbm

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 UNIVERS