Weifa

Weifa[1] is a Norwegian pharmaceutical company headquartered in Oslo with production facilities in Kragerø.

Weifa is one of the world’s largest producers of Metformin hydrochloride and a leading producer of alkaloid opiates. Production facilities follow GMP standards.

History

Weifa was founded by pharmacist Olaf Weider in 1940.[2]

Therapeutic areas

Weifa focuses on three therapeutic areas:

• 1) Pain management
• 2) Diabetes management
• 3) Food supplements

Products

• bra!: Evening primrose oil.
• Bronkyl: Expectorant effervescent tablet.[3]
• Dexyl: Nasal spray.[4]
• Fanalgin: Pain reliever and fever reducer with an addition of caffeine.[5]
• Ferromax: Iron supplement.[6]
• Fluormax: Fluorine supplements.[7]
• Ibux: A brand name for ibuprofen.
• Ibux Gel: A gel version of Ibux.[8]
• Nazamér: Salt water spray.[9]
• Nazaren: Salt water nasal spray.[10]
• Paracet: A brand name for paracetamol.[11]
• Paracetduo: Similar to Paracet with the addition of caffeine for increased pain relief.[12]
• Proxan: Brand name for naproxen.[13]
• Pyrivir: Relieves symptoms of cold sores.[14]
• Samin: Symptom relief in patients with Osteoarthritis.
• Tigerbalsam: Heat rub.[15]
• Tussin: Cough medicine.[16]
• Weifa-C Nypeekstrakt: Vitamin C from rose hip extract.
• Weifa C-vitamin brusetabletter: Vitamin C effervescent tablets.
• Weifa Kalsium: Calcium supplements.

Active ingredients

• Codeine: Used in pain relievers and cough medicine.[17]
• Metformin: Used in first-line treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2.[18]
• Pholcodine: Used in cough medicine.[17]

Development

With a total of over 99 employees, Weifa is today generating an annual turnover of approximately €40 million (35% of the turnover is achieved internationally). Weifa bases its development on 3 criteria:

• 1) International expansion
• 2) Expertise in pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals
• 3) Partnership agreements

Norway

Weifa has market leadership in pain management products for the Norwegian market, with a portfolio of branded products that includes established brand names such as the Ibux tablets, Paracet tablets and Paralgin Forte tablets. Branded products accounts for approximately 70% of net sales.

Export

Weifa’s leading export markets are Germany and United Kingdom. Besides these two essential export markets, Weifa has a long-standing presence in all the main countries of the European Union, in Eastern Europe, in Africa, in North America, in South America and in Asia.