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Verband Forschender Arzneimittelhersteller

Trade association of the German pharmaceutical industry

The Verband Forschender Arzneimittelhersteller (vfa) or Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies, is the trade group of 43 pharmaceutical companies in Germany which are global players, representing more than two-thirds of the German pharmaceutical market, with nearly 80,000 employees in Germany. In Germany more than 18,000 of their employees work in the field of research and development of pharmaceuticals. The vfa's focus has been on political consulting and public relations on the national and EU-level.2 It is headquartered in Berlin.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1994Founded1
  • Industrybusiness and professional associations, unions1
  • HeadquartersBerlin, Germany1
  • Websitewww.vfa.de
  • Legal formRegistered association (eingetragener Verein)1
  • Kind of organizationNonprofit organization1
  • LEI529900U0TF0BEW2MJZ113
  • StatusActive3
  • LEI statusIssued and current3
  • Registered addressCharlottenstr. 59, 10117 Berlin, Germany3
  • Registered withLocal Court Berlin-Charlottenburg, VR 201533

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The Verband Forschender Arzneimittelhersteller (vfa) or Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies, is the trade group of 43 pharmaceutical companies in Germany which are global players, representing more than two-thirds of the German pharmaceutical market, with nearly 80,000 employees in Germany.2

The story

The Verband Forschender Arzneimittelhersteller, or Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies, was founded in 1994 with headquarters in Berlin as an Eingetragener Verein. It is the German or trade group for global players in the pharmaceutical industry.

Difference to the other three trade groups

Mid to small sized pharmaceutical companies in Germany are represented by the Bundesverband der Pharmazeutischen Industrie (BPI).

Another pharmaceutical industry association in Germany, the Bundesverband der Arzneimittelhersteller ("German Medicines Manufacturers' Association", BAH), has about 450 company members including traditional pharmaceutical manufacturers of OTC drugs and biotechnological products plus about 150 other members with a business interest in healthcare, such as publishers and polling organizations.

The third group is "Pro Generika", founded in 2004 in Berlin. As of 2017 it represents 20 member companies and is the only trade association focusing on generic drugs, which cover 77% of the pharmaceutical needs of the Germany's statutory health insurance.

The former "Deutscher Generikaverband" in Berlin, founded in 1986, dissolved in 2012 because of dwindling membership.

From Wikipedia’s article on Verband Forschender Arzneimittelhersteller, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Timeline

  1. 1994Founded Founded1

Sources

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