Institut de Recherche Pierre Fabre

Institut de Recherche Pierre Fabre is the research entity associated with the Pierre Fabre Group, a French pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmetics company founded by pharmacist Pierre Fabre. The institute is recorded as being based in Lavaur, in the Tarn area of south-west France, the same region where Pierre Fabre began his career as a pharmacist and where the group's botanical and pharmaceutical roots lie. It operates within the wider Pierre Fabre organization, whose corporate headquarters are in the Toulouse area and whose research and innovation activities are concentrated at the Pierre Fabre Innovation Center on the Oncopole campus in Toulouse. The Pierre Fabre Group describes itself as a French pharmaceutical and dermocosmetics group with dual expertise in pharmaceuticals and dermo-cosmetics. Its research spans prescription drugs, consumer health products and dermo-cosmetic brands. The group reported revenue of €3.2 billion in 2025, invested €250 million in R&D, employed around 10,000 people and operated from 43 locations. Its dermo-cosmetics portfolio includes major international brands such as Eau Thermale Avène, Ducray, Klorane, A-Derma, René Furterer and Elgydium. Research and development for dermo-cosmetics is led from the Pierre Fabre Innovation Center in Toulouse, supported by innovation centers in Shanghai, specializing in Asian skin types, and Rio de Janeiro, specializing in South American skin types. The institute's scientific identity is closely tied to the group's botanical expertise and its "Green Mission" eco-socio-responsible commitment, which emphasizes sustainable innovation, protection of plant heritage, respect for farmers and harvesters, and eco-designed products. Pierre Fabre's philosophy, articulated by its founder, treats health and beauty as an inseparable whole requiring the same ethical and scientific approach. This philosophy underpins the research conducted across the group's pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmetic activities. As a research organization rather than a consumer-facing brand, Institut de Recherche Pierre Fabre does not market products under its own name. Its work supports the group's prescription medicines, chronic disease and oncology treatments, everyday ailment products, and dermo-cosmetic brands sold internationally. The institute is part of a privately held French group that remains associated with the legacy and values of its founder, Pierre Fabre.

Institut de Recherche Pierre Fabre is the research entity linked to the Pierre Fabre Group, a French pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmetics company. The group traces its origins to the work of Pierre Fabre, a pharmacist in the Tarn area of south-west France, who founded the company that would become Laboratoires Pierre Fabre. The institute itself is recorded as being based in Lavaur, France, a town in the Tarn department, placing it in the same south-western French region where the group's botanical and pharmaceutical heritage began. Pierre Fabre's founding philosophy treated health and beauty as an inseparable whole, requiring the same ethical and scientific approach. This vision led the group to pioneer dermo-cosmetics more than 50 years ago, combining dermatological science with cosmetic care. The institute's research activities reflect this dual expertise, spanning prescription drugs, chronic disease and oncology treatments, everyday ailment products, and dermo-cosmetic formulations for skin, hair and oral health. Over time, the group's research and innovation footprint expanded beyond France. The Pierre Fabre Innovation Center is located on the Oncopole campus in Toulouse, where dermo-cosmetics research and development is led. Additional innovation centers were established in Shanghai, specializing in Asian skin types, and in Rio de Janeiro, specializing in skin types found in South America. The dermo-cosmetics R&D organization comprises around 420 employees based mainly in Toulouse and at these international innovation centers, drawing on multidisciplinary expertise including biology, clinical pharmacology and biotechnology. The group's research is closely tied to its botanical expertise and its "Green Mission" eco-socio-responsible commitment, which was awarded the Committed to CSR label by AFNOR Certification at the Exemplary level. This commitment focuses on sustainable innovation inspired by nature, protection of plant heritage, respect for farmers and harvesters, and guaranteeing the quality of eco-designed products. As of the mid-2020s, the Pierre Fabre Group reported revenue of €3.2 billion in 2025, invested €250 million in R&D, employed around 10,000 people and operated from 43 locations. Its dermo-cosmetics portfolio includes Eau Thermale Avène, Ducray, Klorane, A-Derma, René Furterer and Elgydium. The group has continued to invest in international expansion, particularly in the United States, where Avène has grown rapidly across retail, medical and digital channels. In 2025, Audrey Ricard Campion was appointed Head of Research and Development Dermo-Cosmetics, and in 2026 Nicolas Zombré was named CEO of the U.S. Dermocosmetics Business. The institute remains part of a privately held French group associated with the legacy and values of its founder.

• Pierre Fabre, a pharmacist in the Tarn area of south-west France, founds the company that becomes Laboratoires Pierre Fabre.

• Pierre Fabre pioneers dermo-cosmetics, combining health and beauty in a single scientific approach.

• Audrey Ricard Campion appointed Head of Research and Development Dermo-Cosmetics at Pierre Fabre Laboratories.

• Nicolas Zombré appointed CEO of the U.S. Dermocosmetics Business at Laboratoires Pierre Fabre.

Research and innovation entity within the Pierre Fabre Group, supporting pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmetic development with a focus on botanical expertise and sustainable innovation.

1. 1Pierre Fabre, French pharmaceutical and dermocosmetics grouppierre-fabre.com
2. 2Laboratoires Pierre Fabre Appoints Nicolas Zombré CEO of U.S. Dermocosmetics Businesspierre-fabre.com
3. 3Pharmaceuticals, dermo-cosmetics : our brands | Pierre Fabrepierre-fabre.com
4. 4Audrey Ricard Campion - Head of Research and Development Dermo-Cosmetics | Pierre Fabrepierre-fabre.com
5. 5Institut de Recherche Pierre Fabre (France)wikidata.org