HIPRA

HIPRA, formally Laboratorios Hipra S.A., is a privately held Spanish biotechnology and pharmaceutical company headquartered in Amer, Catalonia. Its historical and largest business is animal health, where it develops, manufactures, and commercializes biological products, especially vaccines for production animals and companion animals. The company also supplies veterinary diagnostic products, vaccination devices, and traceability-related services. Its animal-health portfolio includes more than 100 vaccines, with additional products in development, and is distributed through a combination of subsidiaries and external channels. The company traces its origins to a small veterinary laboratory established in Madrid in 1954. The name HIPRA is derived from the surnames of the laboratory's original creators, Hidalgo and Prado. Chemist and pharmacist Joan Nogareda Gifre acquired the business in 1971 and refounded it in Amer two years later, retaining the established name. Under the Nogareda family, HIPRA developed from a domestic veterinary laboratory into an international life-sciences company. HIPRA began building an international presence in the late 1990s, opening its first foreign subsidiary in Uruguay in 1997. Its subsequent expansion created a network of subsidiaries, research facilities, manufacturing plants, and distribution relationships across Europe and the Americas. The company has described a footprint of operations in approximately 40 countries, with three research and development centres, six production sites, and distribution channels reaching more than 100 countries. Its manufacturing and research capabilities support biological products for both veterinary and human applications. A strategic turning point came in 2009, when HIPRA stopped manufacturing antibiotics and concentrated on vaccines. This decision reinforced its specialization in biological prevention rather than a broad conventional-pharmaceutical portfolio. The company continued to grow during the following decade, reporting revenue of €144 million and approximately 800 employees in 2012. In 1991, leadership passed within the Nogareda family, with David Nogareda Estivill becoming president, Maria del Mar Nogareda Estivill executive vice president, and Arnau Nogareda Estivill joining the board. HIPRA created a human-health division in 2020, initially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The division developed Bimervax, an adjuvanted recombinant-protein COVID-19 vaccine based on a receptor-binding-domain fusion heterodimer incorporating Alpha and Beta SARS-CoV-2 variant sequences. The European Medicines Agency approved Bimervax on March 30, 2023. HIPRA also expanded its human-health activities through the 2021 acquisition of GoodGut, a biotechnology start-up focused on diagnostic testing and research for digestive diseases. In June 2022, the Government of Catalonia awarded HIPRA the Creu de Sant Jordi in recognition of its COVID-19 vaccine research and public-health commitment. In 2025, HIPRA launched a third business division focused on contract development and manufacturing services. This biotech-services activity operates as a contract development and manufacturing organization, complementing the company's animal-health and human-health divisions. As a result, the company's scope extends from veterinary vaccines and diagnostics to human vaccines, digestive-health products, and biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing services. HIPRA remains a privately held, internationally oriented company whose historical identity is rooted in animal health and biological-product innovation.

HIPRA began in 1954 as a small veterinary laboratory in Madrid. Its name was formed from the surnames of the original creators, Hidalgo and Prado. In 1971, chemist and pharmacist Joan Nogareda Gifre acquired the business. Two years later he refounded it in Amer, in the Girona area of Catalonia, while retaining the HIPRA name. The move established the location that later became the company's headquarters and principal base. During the following decades, HIPRA expanded its veterinary activities and developed expertise in biological products. By 1991, the company had reached reported turnover of €10 million and employed 80 people. That year, leadership passed to the next generation of the Nogareda family: David Nogareda Estivill became president, Maria del Mar Nogareda Estivill became executive vice president, and Arnau Nogareda Estivill joined the board. The succession helped preserve the company's family-controlled character while supporting further professional and international development. Internationalization accelerated in the late 1990s. HIPRA opened its first subsidiary outside Spain in Uruguay in 1997 and continued establishing subsidiaries and facilities during the 2000s. The company later described an international network comprising subsidiaries in about 40 countries, three research and development centres, six production sites in Europe and the Americas, and distribution channels reaching more than 100 countries. In 2009, HIPRA discontinued antibiotic manufacturing and made vaccines the centre of its product strategy. This was a significant portfolio decision, aligning the company more closely with preventive biological products for animal health. Its animal-health business subsequently grew around vaccines for production and companion animals, supported by diagnostic kits, vaccination equipment, and traceability services. By 2012, reported revenue had reached €144 million and the workforce was approximately 800 people. The COVID-19 pandemic led HIPRA to establish a human-health division in 2020. The company developed Bimervax, an adjuvanted recombinant-protein vaccine using a receptor-binding-domain fusion heterodimer based on Alpha and Beta SARS-CoV-2 variants. The vaccine received European Medicines Agency approval on March 30, 2023. In 2021, HIPRA also acquired GoodGut, a biotechnology start-up working on diagnostic testing and research related to digestive diseases. In June 2022, the Government of Catalonia awarded HIPRA the Creu de Sant Jordi in recognition of its COVID-19 vaccine research and public-health commitment. In 2025, HIPRA added a biotechnology-services division operating as a contract development and manufacturing organization. This created a three-part structure consisting of animal health, human health, and biotech services. The company reported more than €500 million in revenue, net profit of €53.9 million, and more than 2,800 employees in 2025. HIPRA's present profile combines its long-established animal-vaccine business with human-health research and manufacturing-services capabilities.

• 2025

  Biotech-services division begins operations

  [1]HIPRAen.wikipedia.org

  HIPRA launches a contract development and manufacturing organization, adding a third business division.

• 2023

  Bimervax receives European authorization

  [1]HIPRAen.wikipedia.org

  The European Medicines Agency approves HIPRA's Bimervax COVID-19 vaccine on March 30.

• 2022

  HIPRA receives the Creu de Sant Jordi

  [1]HIPRAen.wikipedia.org

  Catalonia's government recognizes HIPRA for its COVID-19 vaccine research and public-health contribution.

• 2021

  GoodGut is acquired

  [1]HIPRAen.wikipedia.org

  HIPRA acquires GoodGut, a biotechnology start-up focused on digestive-disease diagnostic research and development.

• 2020

  Human-health division is created

  [1]HIPRAen.wikipedia.org

  HIPRA establishes a human-health unit, initially focused on COVID-19 vaccine development and later digestive-health activities.

• 2009

  HIPRA exits antibiotic manufacturing

  [1]HIPRAen.wikipedia.org

  The company stops manufacturing antibiotics and concentrates its manufacturing and commercial strategy on vaccines.

• 1997

  First international subsidiary opens

  [1]HIPRAen.wikipedia.org

  HIPRA opens its first foreign subsidiary in Uruguay, beginning a sustained international expansion.

• 1991

  Leadership passes to the next generation

  [1]HIPRAen.wikipedia.org

  David Nogareda Estivill becomes president, Maria del Mar Nogareda Estivill becomes executive vice president, and Arnau Nogareda Estivill joins the board.

• 1973

  The company is refounded in Amer

  [1]HIPRAen.wikipedia.org

  Nogareda refounds the company in Amer, Catalonia, retaining the HIPRA name.

• 1971

  Joan Nogareda Gifre acquires HIPRA

  [1]HIPRAen.wikipedia.org

  Chemist and pharmacist Joan Nogareda Gifre acquires the veterinary laboratory.

• 1954

  HIPRA is established in Madrid

  [1]HIPRAen.wikipedia.org

  HIPRA begins as a small veterinary laboratory founded by individuals identified with the surnames Hidalgo and Prado.

A science-led, vertically integrated biological-products company whose core identity is veterinary vaccination, supported by international manufacturing, research, and distribution capabilities and complemented by newer human-health and biopharmaceutical-services businesses.

• Veterinary biological products

  Animal-health vaccines

  HIPRA's core product area is a broad portfolio of vaccines for production animals and companion animals. The company develops biological products targeting multiple animal species and disease areas, with more than 100 vaccines in its portfolio and additional candidates in development. These products are supported by HIPRA's own research, manufacturing, international subsidiaries, and distribution network.

• Animal-health services and diagnostics

  Veterinary diagnostics and traceability services

  Alongside vaccines, HIPRA supplies veterinary diagnostic kits, vaccination devices, and integrated traceability services. These offerings extend the company beyond the vaccine vial itself by supporting disease monitoring, administration, and management of animal-health programs.

• Human COVID-19 vaccine · 2023

  Bimervax

  Bimervax is HIPRA's adjuvanted recombinant-protein COVID-19 vaccine. It is based on a receptor-binding-domain fusion heterodimer incorporating Alpha and Beta SARS-CoV-2 variant sequences. The European Medicines Agency approved the vaccine on March 30, 2023.

• Human-health diagnostics · 2021

  Digestive-health diagnostics

  HIPRA expanded into digestive-health research and diagnostic products through its acquisition of GoodGut in 2021. The activity focuses on diagnostic testing and biotechnology related to digestive diseases.

• Biopharmaceutical services · 2025

  Biotech contract development and manufacturing services

  Introduced as a dedicated division in 2025, HIPRA's biotech-services business operates as a contract development and manufacturing organization. It adds development and production services for biotechnology products to the company's own animal- and human-health portfolio.

• 2020COVID-19 vaccine development initiative

  Spain · Europe

  HIPRA established its human-health division and began developing a recombinant-protein vaccine in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program produced Bimervax, which received European Medicines Agency approval in 2023.

  Outcome. The program produced Bimervax, which received European Medicines Agency approval in 2023.

  Source

• 2025

  Launch a contract development and manufacturing divisionStrategy

  Background

  HIPRA had developed research and production capabilities across animal and human biological products.

  Action taken

  The company began operating a biotechnology-focused contract development and manufacturing organization as its third business division.

  Aftermath

  HIPRA's operating model expanded from proprietary animal and human health products to include services for external biotechnology development and manufacturing.

  Revenue and net profit. Revenue above €500 million; net profit €53.9 million (2025)

  Source

• 2021

  Acquire GoodGutM&A

  Background

  HIPRA was expanding its human-health activities beyond vaccines.

  Action taken

  HIPRA acquired GoodGut, a biotechnology start-up working on digestive-disease diagnostic tests.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition broadened HIPRA's human-health and diagnostic capabilities.

  Source

• 2020

  Enter human healthStrategy

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic created an urgent need for additional vaccine research and manufacturing capacity.

  Action taken

  HIPRA created a human-health division and began developing a COVID-19 vaccine.

  Aftermath

  The division developed Bimervax, which later received European regulatory approval.

  Source

• 2009

  Concentrate on vaccinesStrategy

  Background

  HIPRA operated across veterinary pharmaceuticals but had also manufactured antibiotics.

  Action taken

  The company stopped manufacturing antibiotics and focused its business on vaccines and related biological products.

  Aftermath

  The decision strengthened HIPRA's specialization in preventive animal-health products and supported the later expansion of its vaccine portfolio.

  Source

1. 1HIPRAen.wikipedia.org
2. 2HIPRA official websitehipra.com