Laboratoires Majorelle

General presentation

Born from the merger of laboratories specialising in gynaecology and urology (Codépharma, Akontis and Duo-Ge), the company has made a name for itself in the field of contraception and markets several products related to contraception and sexual well-being (the pill, vaginal ring, condom, treatment of erectile dysfunction, etc.)

The laboratory was born in 2012, in the context of media debates related to the risk of venous thrombosis from 3rd generation pills. In order to solve this Public Health problem, the Laboratory is developing a new range of pills that is unique on the market. The Majorelle pills have the particularity of being in a continuous 28-day regimen in order to contribute to good patient compliance

In three years, she says she has become the leader in contraceptive pills in France and treats one million women a month, including a range of continuous regimen pills.

Among the pills marketed by the Majorelle laboratory are: Optilova, Optidril, Optimizette, Amarance and Adepal. In 2019, the laboratory also launched Optikinzy, the first and only monophasic pill with norgestimate in a continuous 28-day regimen. Optikinzy thus strengthens the laboratory's range of pills.

In June 2015, the company also distinguished itself by launching Vitaros, the first alternative cream to Viagra with fewer side effects. Finally, Eden condoms, launched in 2018 by the Majorelle laboratory, are the first condoms to be reimbursed by Social Security.

Business model

The company's goal is not to discover new drugs, but to improve existing formulations. More than 3 000 active substances are marketed in France, but are not exploited to their full potential. Majorelle identifies under-exploited molecules, then exploits and enhances the value of molecules whose patents have expired and redevelops them to bring them to market. The objective is to make them easier to take and to offer them at low prices

Thanks to agreements with foreign laboratories, Majorelle has a portfolio of several products (15 in 2016), some of which are sold freely in pharmacies. The company, which had 65 employees in 2016, does not produce, but works with French and European subcontractors

In 2016, Guillaume El Glaoui, the CEO, said: "With the loss of patents and the arrival of generics, "mature" products are for the most part abandoned by the pharmaceutical industry and lose the interest of the medical profession due to lack of investment. Our ambition is to continue to work on these molecules, to make people consume fewer but better drugs."