1909
First clinical analysis laboratory
The hematologist Josep Antoni Grifols i Roig founds a clinical analysis laboratory in Barcelona: the Instituto Central de Análisis Clínicos, Bacteriológicos y Químicos, a precursor to Laboratorios Grifols.
Grifols, a success story
Founded in 1909 as a small, family-run clinical analysis laboratory in Barcelona, Grifols today is a global leader in the development of plasma-derived medicines and transfusion medicine solutions.
Our unique and remarkable history combines scientific expertise with a desire to serve patients and society. We owe our success to the vision and perseverance of the company's founder, Josep Antoni Grifols i Roig, his sons Josep Antoni and Víctor, and all those who have followed in their footsteps. Our values reflect these qualities and are lived daily by everyone working at Grifols.
Read Grifols' key milestones below.
1916
First instruments
The difficulty of keeping samples sterile drives Grifols i Roig to develop four different models of clinical analysis flebula, an analytical instrument used for extracting blood samples in aseptic conditions.
1928
Pioneers of indirect transfusion
The First World War generates international interest in the science of blood transfusion. In Spain, Grifols i Roig patents the first instrument for carrying out indirect blood transfusions, the transfusion flebula.
1940
A postwar family business
The founding of Laboratorios Grifols by Grifols i Roig and his sons, Josep Antoni Grifols i Lucas, a hematologist; and Víctor Grifols i Lucas, a chemist and pharmacist, begins an era of business dedicated to clinical analysis and the preparation of freeze-dried plasma.
1945
Hemobanco Grifols is born
Freeze-drying as a technique for improving plasma conservation becomes a reality under the innovative leadership of Víctor Grifols i Lucas. Against this backdrop, he opens the doors to the first private blood and plasma bank in Spain: the Hemobanco of Laboratorios Grifols.
1951
Plasmapheresis, a new method of obtaining plasma
Víctor Grifols i Lucas takes control of innovation and Josep Antoni Grifols i Lucas of Grifols' scientific research. For the first time in the world, the results of a systematic application of the plasmapheresis technique in humans are published in the British Medical Journal. The study, led by Josep Antoni, includes 320 donors and is presented at the 4th International Congress of Blood Transfusion Medicine.
1957
Gri-Cel, a company dedicated to scientific instrumentation
Víctor Grifols i Lucas and Guillermo Celis found Gri-Cel, a company dedicated to the design and manufacture of laboratory and blood bank instruments, a future pillar of Grifols' growth.
1960
First North American partners
Grifols begins a partnership with Dade Reagents, a North American company that manages blood banks in the United States, directed by hematologist John Elliot. Products are sold across Spain under the brand Dade-Grifols.
1972
Production increases
Grifols opens a new production plant in Parets del Vallès (Barcelona). The plant includes sections for plasma fractionation, manufacture of parenteral solutions, and scientific instrumentation.
1987
Grupo Grifols is born
Control of the company is handed down to the entrepreneur Víctor Grifols Roura, a process that finishes in 1987. The holding company Grupo Grifols is created, uniting the commercial company and clinical diagnostic, plasma-derived medicines, and parenteral solutions production companies.
1988
International expansion begins
Grifols opens its first subsidiary in Portugal, marking the beginning of decades of international expansion.
1995
First Food and Drug Administration (FDA) license awarded
With the production plant in Parets del Vallès (Barcelona), Grifols becomes the first Spanish company to receive an FDA license for its installations and a biological product, albumin.
2002
Integration of plasma donation centers
Grifols acquires the company SeraCare, now Biomat, and its 43 plasma donation centers in the United States.
2003
Acquisition of North American assets
Grifols acquires Alpha Therapeutic Corporation-Mitsubishi, including its plasma fractionation plant in Los Angeles (California).
2006
Grifols listed on the Spanish stock exchange
Grifols begins trading on the Spanish stock market.
2009
The Grifols Academy of Plasmapheresis
The Grifols Academy of Plasmapheresis is launched to train employees in specific disciplines related to the plasma-derivatives industry.
2011
A giant leap forward in the plasma industry
With the acquisition of the North American company Talecris Biotherapeutics, Grifols becomes the third largest manufacturer of plasma-derived medicines in the world and begins trading on NASDAQ.
2014
Growth of Grifols Diagnostic
The acquisition of Novartis' transfusion unit offers integrated solutions across the different processes, from donation to transfusion.
2017
Generational handover
Grifols' President and CEO, Víctor Grifols Roura, who took over from Víctor Grifols i Lucas during the 1980s, hands control of the company to his brother Raimon Grifols and his son Víctor Grifols Deu: Grifols' new Chief Executive Officers.
2017
Leaders in transfusion medicine
With the acquisition of Hologic's transfusion unit, Grifols investigates, develops, and produces reagents and instrumentation based on NAT technology.
2018
Acquisition of Haema
The acquisition of German company Haema enables Grifols to diversify and expand its network of plasma donation centers outside the US.
2019
Donation center network expands with IBBI
Grifols grows its network of plasma donation centers, the largest in the world, with the addition of the FDA-approved Interstate Blood Bank Inc. (IBBI) centers. This includes 26 plasma centers, 9 blood donation centers, and an analytical laboratory.
2020
Strategic Alliance with Shanghai RAAS
Grifols closes a strategic alliance with Shanghai RAAS, a leading Chinese company in the plasma-derivatives sector. The agreement provides Grifols an opportunity to further its international expansion and build on its long-term, sustainable growth.
2021
Grifols and Egyptian government inaugurate first African plasma-supply platform
Grifols and Egypt's National Service Projects Organization inaugurates their first plasma donation center, in El Cairo, less than a year after signing a strategic alliance to develop an integrated plasma-supply platform to help achieve self-sufficiency in plasma medicines in the country and region. As part of the agreement, by 2025 the partners will open 19 more donation centers as well as a testing lab and production facilities in the country.
2022
Acquisition of Biotest
The acquisition of the German plasma-derivatives company Biotest makes Grifols the clear leader in the European plasma industry. The transaction includes a production plant in Dreieich (Germany) and a network of plasma donation centers in Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Grifols Museum
Museu Grifols is a bridge from the past, into the future of hemotherapy. Find out more about the family business that became a global leader in plasma medicines and transfusion medicine.
The Cabinet
Explore this ever-growing archive of Grifols innovations. It contains detailed information on topics such as products, services, and business models, and is designed to connect the past with the future.
Mission and values
Improving people's health and well-being
Every action we take is motivated by our mission to improve people's lives.