Company mission
Grifols is a global company and a worldwide benchmark in the healthcare sector. The mission of the more than 14,000 people in 30 countries that make up the Grifols team is to help improve human health and wellbeing by researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing biological drugs derived from plasma, clinical diagnostic systems and pharmaceutical specialties for hospital use. Founded in 1940, Grifols is a company with more than 75 years of commitment to patients and healthcare professionals; of commitment to innovation.
What innovation do you bring to the market?
At Grifols, innovation is one of our founding pillars and part of our commitment to patients and healthcare professionals. This commitment has made us one of the 100 most innovative companies in the world according to Forbes magazine.
1. Through the Bioscience Division, our main line of activity, we bring together the legacy of our 75 years of history and supply proteins derived from plasma that save and improve patients’ lives. Grifols is currently third in the world in the sector and first in Europe. Our main proteins include:
- Immunoglobulin, especially intravenous (IVIG), to treat immune deficiencies.
- Albumin to reestablish and maintain circulatory volume.
- Factor VIII for treatment and prophylaxis of hemophilia.
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin, which protects against the breakdown of lung tissue (emphysema)
2. As specialists in diagnostics, our products and services also help care for patient health and help medical professionals make decisions. The Grifols Diagnostic Division focuses on two key areas of specialization: transfusion medicine and clinical analysis.
We are leaders in transfusion medicine with our line of blood-typing products, NAT technology and production of antigens for reactives in immunoassays. We are currently the only company that offers comprehensive solutions for blood and plasma donation centers to control the whole process, from donation to transfusion.
3. Through our Hospital Division we provide non-biological pharmaceutical products and healthcare supplies for hospital pharmacies.
Here at Grifols we drive innovation through research into new plasma proteins with a therapeutic effect or new indications for existing proteins. In this regard, we devote 6% of our yearly income directly to R&D. In 2015, specifically, we invested €236 millions in R&D.
Plus, Grifols is also working in new fields of research through companies it holds stock in. So, Grifols also promotes biotechnology initiatives by investing in research companies to fund R&D projects in fields like Alzheimer and personalized medicine, among others.
Grifols is the majority shareholder in research companies like Araclon Biotech, Nanotherapix, Progenika Biopharma and Kiro Robotics. Plus, the group also holds stock in Aradigm Corporation, TiGenix, Alkahest, AlbaJuna Therapeutics and VCN Biosciences.
What is the most important milestone you’ve reached so far?
Over more than 75 years we’ve achieved a lot of goals and gone through many different stages. We’ve been able to adapt to the new times, going from a family-run company to a multinational corporation; we’ve prioritized international expansion to become a global company; and we’ve determinedly promoted activities in the field of plasma derivatives while also maintaining intravenous and diagnostic solutions, which were the base of the company for decades.
Today Grifols is a diversified, international company with direct presence in 30 countries and sales and distribution in more than 100.
From a business standpoint, going public in 2006 was key. As were several strategic acquisitions, like that of Talecris (2011) and the Novartis transfusion diagnostics unit (2014).
From a scientific standpoint, over our more than 75 years of history, Grifols has contributed to advancing plasma derivatives to benefit patients. The company has been a pioneer in developing techniques and processes to obtain and produce plasma proteins currently used in the industry.
Innovation as a goal has been, is and will be fundamental. This focuses on increasingly efficient and safe production methods; new indications for plasma products to treat more minority diseases; and products adapted to make treatment easier. From this perspective, the best is yet to come.
What would you like to read about the company in the news a few years from now?
The work we do here at Grifols doesn’t aim to make headlines. We’re hardwired to contribute to advancing science and society.
For the company, it is essential to promote research into Alzheimer, in light of the ageing population in developed societies and the high social and economic impact of this disease. Our strategy covers the three main fields of action: new treatment to slow progression, early diagnosis and development of a prophylactic vaccine.
The AMBAR study (Alzheimer Management by Albumin Replacement), which is testing the combination of extracting plasma and replacing it with Grifols’ albumin (plasma exchange), is moving forward. Furthermore, the company is also working to validate a diagnostic kit and to develop an Alzheimer vaccine, currently in phase I clinical trials.
The success of these projects would undoubtedly be good news for society.