Private-label medical devices: how to choose a manufacturer

Start with your market's needs

A private-label project starts with a practical question: what role should this product play in your portfolio? A specific indication, population and distribution channel provide a better starting point than a general catalogue request.

Prepare a brief covering target countries, intended users, preferred formats and launch forecasts. A partner already marketing an ENT range will approach the project differently from a company new to medical devices. This information helps select relevant products and quickly identify topics that need further discussion.

Understand what the private-label offering includes

At VITROBIO, the offering is based on formulations already developed and evaluated, intended to be marketed under the partner's brand. It does not involve creating a new formulation on request. VITROBIO remains the legal manufacturer and the partner appears as distributor, according to the contractual arrangement. The partnership FAQ explains this model.

Commercial presentation options must therefore be distinguished from the device's technical characteristics. Before designing packaging, confirm the product, its intended purpose, the information that must be retained and possible adaptations for your market.

Review a specific product

Ask for a presentation of the product you actually plan to distribute. A technology shared by several products does not imply identical indications, ages of use or clinical results.

Organise your questions around four topics:

• Use: indication, population, instructions and precautions.
• Evidence: available studies, formulation studied, endpoints measured and limitations.
• Status: documents applicable to the product and intended market.
• Organisation: contacts, packaging, supply and post-launch follow-up.

Our article on MDR and the documents to review develops the regulatory aspect. For the technical principle, see our explanation of local physical action.

Compare proposals on the same basis

Compare offerings with the same scope. A unit price has a different meaning depending on volumes, packaging and included services. Request a proposal based on an explicit scenario: markets, products, languages, forecast quantities and preferred schedule.

Also clarify your expectations regarding exclusivity. Territory, formulation, duration and associated commitments must be discussed together. Commercial availability cannot be inferred simply from a product's presence in a catalogue.

Prepare your first discussion with VITROBIO

VITROBIO is a French laboratory based in Issoire. To explore a partnership, start with our private-label medical devices, then identify the products and territories that interest you.

A one-page brief is enough to start a useful discussion: company, countries, current range, desired indication, forecasts and planned launch date. These details form the basis for discussion; commercial terms and feasibility are then confirmed for the project.

Tell VITROBIO about your project.

References and sources

This article provides a commercial selection method. Information about VITROBIO's offering is detailed in our laboratory FAQ and our history.