The Verband Forschender Arzneimittelhersteller, or Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies, was founded in 1994 with headquarters in Berlin as an Eingetragener Verein.
[2] Mid to small sized pharmaceutical companies in Germany are represented by the Bundesverband der Pharmazeutischen Industrie (BPI).
Another pharmaceutical industry association in Germany, the Bundesverband der Arzneimittelhersteller ("German Medicines Manufacturers' Association", BAH), has about 450 company members including traditional pharmaceutical manufacturers of OTC drugs and biotechnological products plus about 150 other members with a business interest in healthcare, such as publishers and polling organizations.
As of 2017[update] it represents 20 member companies and is the only trade association focusing on generic drugs, which cover 77% of the pharmaceutical needs of the Germany's statutory health insurance.
[8] The vfa publishes leading members in their "fotoarchive", with Birgit Fischer as managing director, but no other organizational details like employee figures or operating expenses.