HPRD – Health Products Research and Development Lda

Labfit is the operating brand of HPRD – Health Products Research and Development Lda, a Portuguese company based at Ubimedical in Covilhã. The brand identifies and communicates the group's laboratory testing, research and development, and regulatory consultancy activities, which focus on pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, medical devices, biocides and textiles. Labfit was created in 2012 by two pharmaceutical researchers from the Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS-UBI), with the aim of valorising and transferring scientific knowledge and providing specialised services to manufacturing industries at national and international level. The company positions itself as an end-to-end partner for brands, startups and established companies, covering the path from concept to market-ready products. Its service portfolio includes formulation development, microbiological quality, chemical characterisation, safety and toxicity assessment, efficacy and bioactivity testing, and regulatory consultancy. Labfit also advises clients on quality systems and good manufacturing practices (GMP) and offers specialised training. It maintains a close relationship with the University of Beira Interior (UBI) and works alongside Pharmapoli to support the full value chain from concept to manufacturing. Labfit operates three specialised testing laboratories and emphasises alternative methods to animal testing, following the 3Rs principles and cosmetic legislation. It is a member of the European validation network for in vitro tests, EU-NETVAL, coordinated by the Joint Research Centre, and describes itself as the only Portuguese laboratory in that restricted group. In 2026 it announced two GMP certificates issued by INFARMED covering human medicinal products and investigational medicinal products, including non-sterile microbiological and physico-chemical testing. On the R&D side, Labfit develops its own ideas, methodologies and technologies, with a focus on topical application products. It has developed patented prototypes of genital application products intended for licensing to industrial partners, and it runs projects such as the Sustainable and Scalable Cosmetics project, which explores the use of thermal waters in value-added cosmetic products. The company remains privately held and headquartered in Covilhã, Portugal.

Labfit was created in 2012 by two pharmaceutical researchers from the Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS-UBI), with the goal of valorising and transferring scientific knowledge and providing specialised, high-quality services to different sectors of the manufacturing industry. The brand is owned by the Portuguese company HPRD – Health Products Research and Development Lda and is headquartered at Ubimedical in Covilhã, maintaining a close relationship with the basic knowledge created at the University of Beira Interior (UBI). From its base in Covilhã, Labfit built a service portfolio spanning laboratory testing, research and development, and regulatory consultancy for pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, medical devices, biocides and textiles. Its activities cover quality control and characterisation of products as well as R&D of pharmaceutical products, at both national and international levels. The company operates three specialised testing laboratories and has developed expertise in technological, microbiological, physico-chemical, toxicological and regulatory support. A distinctive element of Labfit's history is its commitment to alternative methods to animal testing, in line with the 3Rs principles and cosmetic product legislation. The company joined EU-NETVAL, the European validation network for in vitro tests coordinated by the Joint Research Centre, and states that it is the only Portuguese laboratory in that restricted group of European laboratories. In 2026, Labfit announced that it had attained two GMP certificates issued by INFARMED, covering human medicinal products and investigational medicinal products, including non-sterile microbiological testing and physico-chemical testing. Alongside its service business, Labfit pursues its own R&D programme, investigating and developing ideas, methodologies and technologies that articulate basic research with applied research. Its R&D activity has resulted in innovative, patented products, with a focus on topical application products. The company has developed prototypes of genital application products protected by patents, aiming to license them to industrial partners. It also runs the Sustainable and Scalable Cosmetics project, which seeks to use thermal waters in value-added cosmetic products through sustainable, low-carbon supply chains and common chemical bases compatible with thermal waters of different ionic charges. Labfit works with Pharmapoli to support the entire value chain from concept to manufacturing.

• 2026

  Labfit attains two GMP certificates issued by INFARMED covering human medicinal products and investigational medicinal products.

• 2012

  Labfit is created by two pharmaceutical researchers from CICS-UBI.

• Labfit joins EU-NETVAL, the European validation network for in vitro tests coordinated by the Joint Research Centre.

Scientific and regulatory partner for the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, medical device, biocide and textile industries, offering end-to-end support from concept to compliant, market-ready products.

• Formulation Development

  Development of product formulations for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and related applications.

• Microbiological Quality

  Microbiological testing and quality control services.

• Chemical Characterization

  Physico-chemical characterisation of products.

• Safety and Toxicity

  Safety and toxicity assessment, including alternative methods to animal testing.

• Efficacy Testing / Bioactivity

  Efficacy and bioactivity testing services.

• Regulatory Consultancy

  Regulatory support and consultancy for product compliance.

1. 1Labfit | Product Dev., Lab Testing & Regulatory Consultancylabfit.pt
2. 2About Labfit | 3 Specialized Testing Labs & R&D Expertslabfit.pt
3. 3Our services - Labfitlabfit.pt
4. 4Labfit Projects - Labfitlabfit.pt
5. 5Health Products Research and Development (Portugal) - Wikidatawikidata.org