EMS is the biggest domestic pharmaceutical company

Pharmaceutical company

The pharmaceutical industry develops, produces, and markets drugs licensed for use as medications. Pharmaceutical companies are allowed to deal in generic and/or brand medications and medical devices...

 in Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

,. Founded in the mid 1950s, the company has two industrial plants based in São Bernardo do Campo

São Bernardo do Campo

São Bernardo do Campo is a municipality in the state of São Paulo, in southern Metropolitan São Paulo and São Paulo microregion. The municipality's total area is 408.45 km ² and a population estimated at 1 July 2009, according to the IBGE, was 810,979 inhabitants, which results in a population...

 and Hortolândia

Hortolândia

Hortolândia is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2008 is 201 049 and the area is 62,2 km². The elevation is 587 m....

, in the state of São Paulo

São Paulo (state)

São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...

.

EMS operates through five divisions:

• EMS Similars - markets similares; a class of pharmaceuticals peculiar to the Brazilian market. Not generics but not original brands either;

• EMS Generics - markets generics;

• EMS Sigma Pharma - markets branded medicines;

• EMS Hospital - markets drugs to hospitals;

• EMS Consumer - markets OTC drugs.

Today the company has a presence in over 30 countries through joint-ventures and strategic partnerships with other pharmaceutical companies.

EMS's Brazilian main competitors are Hypermarcas

Hypermarcas

Hypermarcas is a Brazilian conglomerate. The company has a complete portfolio of brands in Brazil, with capital from Brazil, considering jointly market segments in which it operates...

, Eurofarma, Aché

Aché (pharmaceuticals)

Aché is one of the biggest Brazilian pharmaceutical company, is based in Guarulhos, in Greater São Paulo and was founded in 1922. It is a company with 100% national capital....

 and Cristália

Cristália (pharmaceuticals)

Cristália is a Brazilian pharmaceutical company founded in 1972 and based in Itapira, State of São Paulo. Its focused in psychiatric and expertise in areas such as anesthesia and allergology....

.