What we do
Pharmaceuticals with a difference
With a guiding principle of working to improve your health, we deliver pharmaceuticals that make a real difference to people’s health.
Here at AFT Pharmaceuticals, our company vision is simple: to develop innovative products that help people. We do this by seeing opportunities that others may have missed, and by filling gaps in the market with innovative products that can provide positive health outcomes for those who need them.
Our success is built on research and development. R&D is more than ‘corporate speak’ for us: it’s at the heart of what we do in developing new products or improving existing ones. This has allowed us to successfully grow our business year after year, and crucially, to meet the health needs of people in Australasia and around the globe.
“At AFT Pharmaceuticals, we remain committed to reinvest into R&D to help people across the world.”
Hartley Atkinson, Founder and Managing Director
Our history
From ‘go’ to global in under 20 years
We're underway
Husband and wife team Hartley and Marree Atkinson form AFT Pharmaceuticals, the small Kiwi company that dreamed big. In August that year, we celebrate a huge milestone – our first sales.
Owning it
We acquire our first wholly owned AFT Pharmaceutical products. We also acquire part ownership of two South African pharmaceutical companies and a wholesaler – these are successfully sold in 2004.
G'day, cobber
AFT Pharmaceuticals is established in Australia. A big move for us back then, but Australia is now our second home. We also begin our own drug development work and file our first two global patents.
Europe calls
Our little New Zealand company hits the big time. We sign a joint venture drug development agreement with a company in the European Union, expanding our global reach phenomenally.
So does South East Asia
AFT secures an out-licensing deal for three of our own products in South East Asia. By December, our first product launches are underway in Malaysia. Things are on the up and up!
A breakthrough
Arise Maxigesic®, AFT’s world-first combination analgesic, is launched in New Zealand. This groundbreaking pharmaceutical is a roaring success and is soon out-licensed to Eastern Europe.
Through the barrier
Group sales increase to NZ$50 million. We launch preservative-free HYLO-FRESH and HYLO-FORTE eye drops in Australia and New Zealand, which is at the forefront of our strong growth in the Eye Care category over the following years.
A global snowball
We keep on expanding. By now, AFT Pharmaceutical’s distribution and out-licensing agreements have expanded significantly to include 42 countries in Australasia and around the globe.
What a year
Maxigesic® is launched in Australia. We discover a major formulation error in competitive cold and flu products, published globally. Milford Asset Management (NZ) and Capital Royalty (USA) collectively invest US$12M in equity.
Our first Maxigesic line extension
Maxigesic® PE is launched in New Zealand – a patented combination of paracetamol, ibuprofen and phenylephrine that provides triple action cold, flu and sinus relief. We also introduce NovaTears®; unique preservative-free eye drops specifically designed for evaporative dry eye disease.
Challenging times, strong results
The COVID-19 pandemic dominates headlines around the world, but AFT doesn’t stand still throughout this challenging year for global health care. We launch Maxigesic® IV in Australia and New Zealand, while licensing deals for international markets continue to grow. NovaTears® + Omega-3 is an exciting addition to our growing eye care product range. And to top it all off, AFT breaks through the $100M revenue barrier to achieve record company earnings.
The story continues
It has been a busy start to the year with a number of new product launches in Australia and New Zealand to help drive further growth for AFT Pharmaceuticals.
Join our team
We’re always looking for talented people, please have a look at the careers we currently have available.
Social responsibility
We don’t just give back. We give health
We don’t speak for others, but as a successful company, we think it’s important to give back to those who most need it.
And that’s why we’ve reached out in developing nations to help deliver healthcare that developed nations take for granted. This includes Eyes4Everest, the AusViet Charity Foundation, and helping Carmelite nuns in East Timor and the Wesleyan Mission to Bougainville.
May 1, 2024
AFT Licenses Maxigesic® IV in Brazil
We are delighted to announce our partnership with Brazil’s Halex Istar, and to be exclusively responsible for distributing its Maxigesic IV in Brazi…
April 24, 2024
AFT, Massey Ventures, Gilles McIndoe to develop scar treatment
AFT collaborate with Massey Ventures and Gilles McIndoe to begin the development of a topical treatment for keloid and hypertrophic scarring….
March 5, 2024
AFT makes further progress in international markets
AFT Pharmaceuticals provides an update on recent progress it has made in international markets….