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Pharmaceutical Companies in Leicester: 112 Active Firms (2026)
Pharmaceutical companies in Leicester research, manufacture, import or distribute regulated human medicines within an MHRA-governed UK market.
Buying centres tend to sit with quality, regulatory affairs, supply-chain, finance and commercial operations rather than a single software-style budget owner. Leicester-area suppliers are most relevant to NHS-facing channels, wholesalers, contract manufacturing and regulated life-sciences operators that need traceable medicines handling, licensed import or assembly, batch control and pharmacovigilance support. Engagements tend to be mid-market, with procurement shaped by licence status, inspection history, documentation discipline and capacity rather than price alone. The buying pattern is usually relationship-led and operationally conservative: audits, service-level commitments and change-control processes matter before volume commitments are agreed.
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Leicester has 112 actively trading pharmaceutical companies, a small local market by count but with several revenue-tested operators: 13 firms report turnover above £5M. The employment footprint is narrower than the company count implies, with reported headcount totalling 375. A formation tail is also visible, as 31 firms were incorporated since 2022. That combination points to a cohort split between established licence-holding businesses and younger entrants still proving route-to-market, quality systems and distribution relationships.
Human medicines sit inside an activity-based regime rather than a general healthcare wrapper. A Leicester business that makes, assembles or imports human medicines needs an MHRA manufacturer’s licence, must comply with good manufacturing practice and should expect regular site inspection. Wholesale supply to anyone other than the patient requires a wholesale distribution licence and good distribution practice compliance. Marketing authorisation, pharmacovigilance duties and NHS cost-effectiveness assessment add further gates, so market access is partly a regulatory and evidence exercise, not only a sales channel question. ABPI is the main trade body for research-based pharmaceutical businesses.
Leicester’s pharmaceutical cohort appears likely to remain more operational than discovery-led. Licence compliance, audit readiness and dependable supply-chain execution tend to favour businesses with established quality teams, while younger entrants face a slower climb from incorporation to regulated revenue. Scarcity of scale-up operators may also encourage service partnerships, outsourcing and occasional consolidation, especially where manufacturing capacity, import capability or wholesale permissions are difficult to recreate. Demand should remain tied to UK healthcare purchasing, medicines availability and evidence requirements, leaving little room for firms that cannot document process control and pharmacovigilance discipline.
112
Active firms
2026
13
£5M+ revenue
Leicester cohort
31
New since 2022
incorporations
Key facts
About 11% of the trading cohort reports turnover above £5M (13 of 112 firms) — the rest sits below that revenue band.
27% of the cohort was incorporated since 2022 (31 firms), so a sizeable share is in its first few filing cycles.
UK human medicines sit under MHRA oversight, covering clinical-trial approvals, medicine licensing, manufacturing standards and pharmacovigilance.
Manufacturing, assembly or import of human medicines requires an MHRA manufacturer’s licence, good manufacturing practice compliance and regular site inspections.
Wholesale supply to anyone other than the patient requires a wholesale distribution licence and good distribution practice compliance.
Pharmaceutical R&D performed by UK businesses reached £9.0 billion in 2022, equal to 0.36% of UK GDP and 18% of all UK business R&D.
UK pharmaceutical exports were £25.6 billion in 2023, with the UK ranked tenth among comparator countries.
Top Leicester Pharmaceutical companies
Alpha Pharma Supplies Ltd
Trajectory
4y · 2022–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsDevelops and supplies generic pharmaceutical products, including micronized micro‑tablet formulations. Product range covers treatments for asthma, hormone replacement therapy, oncology,…
Serves healthcare and pharmaceutical buyers in the global generic medicines market, including distributors and sellers supplying patients across multiple therapeutic areas.
Financial Health
DistressedDistressed · -7% CAGR over 3y
Location
OPTOPHARM LTD
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsManufactures ophthalmic and sterile pharmaceutical solutions, including contact lens care products, eye comfort drops, and first-aid eye and wound irrigation solutions. Conducts research, product…
Serves eye care and wound care product brands, distributors and retailers, as well as consumers using contact lens care, eye comfort and first-aid irrigation products in international markets.
Financial Health
DistressedDistressed · -7% CAGR over 4y
Location
Smartway PW Holdings Limited
Trajectory
2y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 2 filingsSupplies and distributes branded and generic pharmaceuticals globally. Sources comparator drugs, unlicensed and shortage medicines, and manages early access and named‑patient programmes. Provides…
Serves healthcare professionals, hospitals, pharmacies, sexual health clinics, pharma and biotech companies, CROs/CDMOs, wholesalers and distributors, NGOs, charities, multilateral aid organisations…
Financial Health
StableStable · Profitable, Hiring · 25% CAGR over 1y
Location
Medicine Chest Healthcare Limited
Trajectory
4y · 2022–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsSupplies and distributes pharmaceutical products to healthcare providers. Sources and wholesales prescription medicines, over‑the‑counter drugs, surgical supplies, and other healthcare essentials…
Sells B2B to UK healthcare providers involved in patient care and community health services, including organisations requiring access to pharmaceuticals, OTC medicines, surgical supplies and…
Financial Health
StableStable · 0% CAGR over 3y
Location
Smartway Pharmaceuticals Limited
Trajectory
4y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsSupplies and distributes branded and generic pharmaceutical medicines to healthcare providers, pharmacies, wholesalers and aid organisations. Sources and exports medicines internationally, including…
Serves healthcare professionals, hospitals, pharmacies, sexual health clinics, pharma and biotech firms, CROs/CDMOs, wholesalers, distributors, NGOs, charities, multilateral aid organisations and…
Financial Health
StableStable · Profitable, Hiring · 11% CAGR over 4y
Location
BSP Pharma Ltd
Trajectory
4y · 2022–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsProvides contract development and manufacturing services for pharmaceutical companies, focusing on oncology and high‑potency drugs. Offers formulation development, process scale‑up, ADC conjugation…
Serves pharmaceutical and biotech companies developing oncology, immunotherapy and other innovative therapeutics, from pre-clinical programmes to clinical and commercial supply.
Financial Health
StrongStrong · Hiring · 82% CAGR over 3y
Location
Wego Medical UK Limited
Trajectory
1y · 2024–NowFinancial Health
Insufficient historyInsufficient history
Location
HEC Pharm UK Limited
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
WeakWeak · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
PHARMASKI LTD
Trajectory
1y · 2025–NowFinancial Health
Insufficient historyInsufficient history
Location
Medex Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Trajectory
4y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong
Location
Rayan Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Trajectory
3y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong
Location
Personal Homecare Pharmacy Ltd
Trajectory
5y · 2022–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides homecare pharmacy services including dispensing prescriptions and delivering medicines to patients’ homes. Works with NHS clinicians, hospitals and healthcare providers to manage…
Serves NHS trusts, clinicians, hospitals, private healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies, with patients receiving homecare medication as end users.
Financial Health
StrongStrong · Growing, Hiring · 34% CAGR over 3y
Location
Indi Trading UK Ltd
Trajectory
4y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
PPE-UK SOLUTIONS LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StableStable · -68% CAGR over 4y
Location
Arrybarry Ltd
Trajectory
5y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong · Hiring · 15% CAGR over 5y
Location
Spirit Health Group Ltd
Trajectory
3y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsDevelops digital health technology including the Clinitouch remote patient monitoring and virtual ward platform. Provides medicines optimisation services to healthcare systems, patient education…
Serves NHS organisations, GP practices, healthcare providers, healthcare educators and clinicians, plus patients and consumers using weight management and online pharmacy services.
Financial Health
WeakWeak · 2% CAGR over 2y
Location
Spirit Pharmacy Limited
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsOnline pharmacy dispensing NHS repeat prescription medications with free home delivery. Provides specialist support for people with diabetes, including medication management, pharmacist advice,…
Serves individuals managing diabetes and other ongoing conditions who use NHS repeat prescriptions, including patients wanting home delivery, medication support, blister packs and pharmacist advice.
Financial Health
StableStable · Hiring · 6% CAGR over 4y
Location
D.M.H. PHARM LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong · Growing, Hiring · 6% CAGR over 4y
Location
Nova Laboratories
Develops and manufactures pharmaceutical products including licensed medicines for niche and rare diseases, sterile clinical trial medicines, and patient‑specific “specials”. Provides aseptic…
Serves healthcare providers and pharmaceutical or biotech clients needing specials, paediatric and niche rare-disease medicines, plus sterile clinical trial manufacturing support in regulated markets.
Location
Nova Laboratories
Manufactures and supplies pharmaceutical products including unlicensed ‘specials’ medicines tailored to individual patient needs and Nova‑branded treatments for rare diseases. Provides aseptic…
Serves healthcare providers, NHS/pharmacy teams, and pharmaceutical or biotech organisations, including clinical trial sponsors and developers of niche, rare-disease or temperature-sensitive…
Location
Provides clinical trial supply services for pharmaceutical and biotech companies, including drug and ancillary sourcing, packaging, labeling, distribution, pharmacy dispensing, and bioservices. Also…
Serves pharmaceutical and biotech companies, including clinical trial sponsors and drug manufacturers, working on investigational and marketed medicines across clinical development and commercial…
Location
SUPRA ENTERPRISES LIMITED
Trajectory
4y · 2022–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsPharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor handling OTC medicines, surgical and medical supplies, and FMCG products. Provides distribution, logistics, global import and export, brand management, and…
Serves B2B healthcare and pharmaceutical organisations, including pharmacies, distributors, suppliers and brand owners in national and international markets seeking wholesale and commercial…
Financial Health
StableStable · 0% CAGR over 3y
Location
BLACKBIRD PHARMACY LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
HealthyHealthy · Hiring · 6% CAGR over 4y
Location
Intelligent Medical Group Limited
Trajectory
5y · 2022–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
WeakWeak
Location
BIOTHERICS LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed · -68% CAGR over 4y
Location
SOLUMETRICS LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsManufactures and supplies EP, BP and USP grade chemicals including ion pair reagents, derivatization reagents, buffers and solvents. Provides fine chemicals, pharmaceutical raw materials and custom…
Serves pharmaceutical, biotechnology and industrial manufacturers and laboratories that need EP-grade chemicals, analytical reagents, pharmaceutical raw materials and custom formulations.
Financial Health
WeakWeak · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
HAVE A GOOD DAY LTD
Trajectory
3y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsFinancial Health
StableStable
Location
Ziotis International Limited
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsWholesales and exports pharmaceutical products and consumer goods for British and European brands, supplying distributors in the Caribbean and Bermuda. Handles logistics, regulatory compliance,…
Serves British and European pharmaceutical, FMCG and consumer goods brand owners seeking export sales into Caribbean and Bermuda pharmacy and supermarket channels, working with regional distributors…
Financial Health
HealthyHealthy · -2% CAGR over 4y
Location
UK-MIDDLE EAST BRIDGE LTD
Trajectory
2y · 2024–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 2 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
Pharmakinetic Limited
Trajectory
5y · 2022–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) analysis, DMPK support, and clinical pharmacology consulting for pharmaceutical drug development. Services include study interpretation,…
Serves pharmaceutical and biotech organisations developing drugs, including discovery and clinical development teams needing pharmacokinetics, DMPK and clinical pharmacology input, review or training.
Financial Health
StableStable · Hiring · 19% CAGR over 4y
Location
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How Leicester Pharmaceutical companies work and how to sell to them
What they do
Revenue usually comes from regulated product supply, contract services and distribution margins rather than pure intellectual property licensing. Leicester pharmaceutical firms may manufacture, assemble, import, package or wholesale human medicines, with income tied to batch volume, service fees, release testing, storage, fulfilment or supply agreements. Pricing tends to reflect licence scope, quality requirements, documentation burden and availability risk. A contract may look operationally mundane, but the commercial value sits in controlled process execution: approved suppliers, validated systems, batch traceability, temperature control, deviation handling and agreed routes for quality sign-off before goods move.
Who they sell to
Typical customers include NHS-facing buyers, medicines wholesalers, private healthcare suppliers, clinical service operators and other life-sciences companies that need licensed capacity or compliant distribution. Buying groups are usually cross-functional. Quality assurance and regulatory affairs test licence fit and audit history, while supply-chain, finance and commercial teams assess capacity, pricing and continuity of supply. Larger opportunities tend to move through direct relationships, supplier qualification and formal tendering rather than self-serve purchasing. Sales cycles can be slow because customers must review documents, inspect sites, agree change-control terms and satisfy internal governance before switching a regulated supplier.
What they buy
Most pharmaceutical firms tend to spend on systems and services that reduce compliance risk or improve supply reliability. Relevant categories include electronic quality management, document control, batch-record management, pharmacovigilance workflow, warehouse and inventory systems, temperature monitoring, serialisation support, finance software, CRM, business intelligence and cyber security. They also buy specialist legal advice, regulatory consultancy, validation support, audit preparation, accounting, insurance, logistics, recruitment and training. Infrastructure needs can include controlled storage, laboratory services, cleanroom support, equipment maintenance and cloud hosting where validated systems, access controls and audit trails are part of the buying case.
Why and how to sell to them
Pharmaceutical buyers tend to review suppliers when licence scope changes, inspection findings create remediation work, a new customer requires tighter documentation, or volume growth exposes manual processes. Funding, senior quality hires, warehouse expansion and new import or wholesale activity can also signal intent. Outbound messages usually land better when they connect to operational consequences: fewer audit findings, faster batch release, cleaner deviation handling, better stock visibility, lower validation burden or reduced risk during supplier qualification. Claims need evidence and restraint. These buyers are unlikely to move on novelty alone; they usually want references, implementation discipline and clear ownership of compliance-critical workflows.
How this list is built
Data sources
This list is built from UK Companies House filings, XBRL accounts data, and semantic analysis of each company's public website. Revenue and headcount figures come from the most recent filed accounts; where the company has not filed, values are estimated using a model trained on filed history and peer benchmarks and are labelled as estimates.
Classification
Rather than relying solely on SIC codes, Firmbase classifies each company semantically: the company's website is crawled, an AI model reads what the company actually sells, and the company is placed into the relevant industry and subsectors. SIC codes are used as one signal but not the only one. This means a company that registered under a generic SIC code but pivoted into (for example) fintech is correctly identified as fintech, not as its original SIC category.
Freshness
The underlying company data is refreshed from Companies House continuously; filings appear in the list within days of submission. The curated list ordering is regenerated when the underlying data moves meaningfully (company count changes by more than 5%, a new company enters the top-ranked segment, or the filed-revenue numbers for the top firms change). You can see the last-updated timestamp near the top of the page.
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