Who we are
The Group
Pierre Fabre is the 2nd largest dermo-cosmetics laboratory in the world and the 2nd largest private French pharmaceutical group. Its portfolio includes several medical franchises and international brands including Pierre Fabre Oncology, Pierre Fabre Dermatology, Eau Thermale Avène, Klorane, Ducray, René Furterer, A-Derma, Darrow, Glytone, Naturactive, Pierre Fabre Oral Care.
In 2021, Pierre Fabre posted 2.5 billion euros in revenues, 66% of which came from international sales in over 100 countries.
Established in the South-West of France since its creation, the Group manufactures over 95% of its products in France and employs some 9,500 people worldwide.
Pierre Fabre is 86%-owned by the Pierre Fabre Foundation, a government-recognised public-interest foundation, and secondarily by its own employees through an international employee stock ownership plan.
Taking care, living better
Day after day, we develop innovative solutions that contribute to the well-being of all people. Our approach is based on our unique positioning: “the best of medical and naturalness to serve people.” Our complementary activities, pharmaceuticals and dermo-cosmetics, mean that we can offer a comprehensive approach to health care for the benefit of our patients and our consumers.
Our history
1951
The pharmacy in Castres where it all began
The story began in the French department of the Tarn, at the heart of the Occitanie region in south-west France. Pierre Fabre, a pharmacist and botanist, bought a pharmacy in Castres, his home town. Without knowing it, he was already embarking on his entrepreneurial, scientific and human success story.
1959
Cyclo 3, an inspiring story
At the back of his pharmacy, in a small equipped laboratory, Pierre Fabre designed and developed his first prescription drug. This was Cyclo 3, with its key ingredient extracted from butcher's broom, which grows in the region's undergrowth. It was an innovation for all his customers suffering from venous disorders, and proved instantly successful - a success story that continues to this day.
1962
The birth of Pierre Fabre Laboratories
On the strength of his initial business success and his innate entrepreneurial spirit, Pierre Fabre decided to combine his profession, pharmacy, with his passion, botany. This gave rise to Pierre Fabre Laboratories. One building accommodated the first employees working on research and manufacturing. Little by little, new prescription drugs were added to the freshly-created laboratory's portfolio.
1965
The invention of dermo-cosmetics
Klorane shampoo with Chamomile marked the launch of a new business area: dermo-cosmetics, which was to become exclusive to pharmacies. This was a defining moment in the history of the company, conveying Pierre Fabre's desire to take care of every individual, "from health to beauty." In his opinion, skin and hair products require the same rigor as pharmaceuticals.
1970
Sizing opportunities in Spain
Curious about opening up to other cultures, Pierre Fabre made the decision to go international. The other side of the Pyrenees, in Barcelona, was the natural choice of location for the Group to open the first subsidiary. This was the start of our international development, which continued to blossom, and was to become our way of promoting our exceptional French pharmaceutical and cosmetic expertise.
1974
Hydrotherapy, the source of a unique water
Pierre Fabre Laboratories purchased the hydrotherapy center in Avène-les-Bains, a small village located in the Haut Languedoc natural park. Its thermal spring water had been known to treat skin conditions since 1736. Pierre Fabre embarked on many years of research to unravel the secrets of this miracle water, and was able to scientifically prove its healing properties.
1979
Heading for the Land of the Rising Sun
An encounter between two family companies. On the one hand, Pierre Fabre, with its strong roots in the Occitanie region and its dermo-cosmetics expertise and, on the other, Shiseido, the main player on the Japanese cosmetics market, founded in 1872. Driven by their common values, both companies entered into an initial partnership. Without knowing it, they had just embarked on a long-term adventure, with indisputable success. Avène is now known to all Japanese women!
1990
Launch of Eau Thermale Avène brand
Eau Thermale Avène became the brand for sensitive skin. Driven by the phenomenal success of the thermal spring water spray, the brand's ranges were developed and the products exported throughout Europe, Asia-Pacific, the US and Africa. What is the secret of this unique water? A microflora called Aqua dolomiae, the source of its properties. A biological signature that is a global one-of-a-kind.
1999
The Pierre Fabre foundation born
During trips to sub-Saharan Africa, Pierre Fabre witnessed extremely precarious health care situations: the distribution of ineffective or counterfeit prescription drugs, unsuitable health care facilities, lack of pharmacy and medical staff, etc."Of all inequalities, inequality in terms of health care is the worst," he said. Turning his words into reality, he set himself a new challenge: to improve access to high-quality health care and pharmaceuticals in the Global South. This is the purpose of the Pierre Fabre Foundation, recognized as being in the public interest in 1999.
2005
Opening up company share capital to employees
As a humanist and a generous man, Pierre Fabre wanted to involve his employees more closely in the Group's success and sustainable development. He decided to open up the company's share capital to them, and his employees enthusiastically signed up from the first year. This was a ground-breaking initiative for a privately-owned company, especially as Pierre Fabre quickly extended the measure to countries outside of France. It embodies his vision of a company founded on sharing the wealth created, rather than seeking one-way profit.
2010
Toulouse: Major step toward combating cancer
After the tragic explosion at the AZF plant, Pierre Fabre immediately responded to the request for help from the Mayor of Toulouse, Philippe Douste-Blazy, who wanted to offer a new lease of life to the damaged site. Both men imagined building a global center of excellence there, dedicated to the fight against cancer. The Oncopole opened in 2010, and houses Pierre Fabre's main innovation center. Researchers, clinicians and patients are now just across the road from each other. Progress in the fight against cancer is set to accelerate.
2013
Pierre Fabre leaves his company to the Foundation
To guarantee the future of the company and prevent financial speculation, Pierre Fabre donated all of his shares to the Foundation of the same name, recognized as being in the public interest in 1999. This was the last altruistic and innovative gesture from a visionary entrepreneur, whose entire life had been shaped by his humanist values, for his patients and home region. A one-of-a-kind shareholding structure in France for an industrial company of this size.
2015
The advent of China
Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmetics' Chinese adventure started in 2003, with the arrival of a small team in Shanghai, carefully selected to conquer this immense market. Twelve years later, through the Eau Thermale Avène brand in particular, we achieved sales of €100 million and China became PFDC's top international subsidiary.
This new success story highlights the strong ties between Pierre Fabre and Asia.
2018
Skin cancer, a new, hope-inspiring treatment
In 2015, the Pierre Fabre Group signed an international partnership with Array BioPharma, an American biotech company based in Boulder, Colorado. Aim: to develop and market a targeted oncology therapy, combining two next-generation molecules. In late 2018, the European Commission granted marketing authorization for this new treatment for adult patients suffering from advanced BRAF-mutant melanoma.
2020
Our purpose
In 2019, Pierre Fabre Group engaged in a period of mass reflection with its employees across all disciplines with the aim of defining its purpose. A measure of coherence and cohesion, the goal was to faithfully convey the commitments and values held by the company since its creation: an innovative and cross-cutting approach to healthcare, attentive to the needs of patients and partners alike. With the determination inherited from its founder, Pierre Fabre Group is committed to achieving ever higher standards and greater transparency. At the beginning of 2020, its purpose was unveiled: “Every time we take care of one person, we make the world a better place”.
