About Us / History

HRA Pharma was founded in 1996 by Henri Monod and André Ulmann, both of whom have extensive experience of the pharmaceutical industry.

Over the first three years, the founders built up a small team and began to develop several products. This work was financed by the founders with additional contributions from a number of private investors.

In 1999 the Company's first product was registered. NorLevo^®, the morning after pill, was launched in France, and it generated such positive interest from the public that the French authorities immediately moved to improve patient access to the product. As a result, NorLevo^® became the first hormonal product to be available without a prescription, and the first to be available free of charge to under-18 year olds.

Since then, we have focused on securing product licensing agreements to make NorLevo^® available across the globe. In 2000, the product was approved for full European distribution, and NorLevo^® is now available in over 60 countries.

In parallel, we have been developing new products for women's health and endocrine diseases, including Lysodren^®, Gymiso^® and Cicatridine^®, as well as Mona-Lisa^® a copper IUD*. We have also agreements in place with Orion Pharma (Finland) to market a range of their products in France.

In 2005, we acquired Celogos, an emerging biopharma company with a focus on cell therapy. Celogos discovers and develops innovative cell-based therapeutics for muscle repair.

*IUD: IntraUterine Device