Association of International Research-based Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (SIFFA) is an open voluntary public organization. The goal of AFA is to promote the operations of pharmaceutical companies in Latvia, to improve the healthcare quality, to increase the level of education and expertise of physicians, chemists and general public, as well as to promote and support the organized pharmaceutical market development in cooperation with governmental authorities.

The objectives of SIFFA are to recommend its members the optimal solution of their problems, to respond adequately to any situation whenever any person’s actions infringe on the rights and legitimate interests of an SIFFA member, to use the whole range of possibilities to solve the existing problems.

The main basic kinds of operations of the Association are:

  • To promote cooperation among the Association members;
  • To represent the interests of its members in relations with state institutions and other companies;
  • To inform about the pressing issues and news in the pharmaceutical market;
  • To support development of a pharmaceutical market environment in Latvia meeting the international requirements.

SIFFA was founded in January 1996 and initially united five representatives of foreign pharmaceutical firms operating in Latvia (Glaxo Welcome, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Boehringer Ingelheim, Schering and Eli Lilly). At the present time, AFA unites 22 members, who represents: Abbott Laboratories S.A.; AstraZeneca; Bayer Schering Pharma AG; Berlin–Chemie/Menarini; Biotest Pharma, Boeringer Ingelheim; Bristol Myers Squibb; Eli Lilly; Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Gedeon Rihter; GlaxoSmithKline; Ipsen; Janssen; Kaken Pharmaceutical, LEO Pharmaceutical Products, Lundbeck; Merck; Merck Sharp & Dohme; Nippon Kayaku; Novartis; Novartis Vaccines; Novo Nordisk; Nycomed; Orion Corporation; Pfizer; Sanofi; Servier International; Schering – Plough, UCB Pharma.

SIFFA members are the world’s biggest manufacturers of pharmaceutical products, by their turnover and capitalization also ranking among the world’s biggest companies in general. The Association members are engaged in both medicine production and development and research of new medicines. The Association members’ investment into Latvia’s healthcare system for the past three years has exceeded 20 million euro. It includes both direct investments and donations and investments into education.