01
What a pharmaceutical RFQ platform does
A request for quotation (RFQ) is useful when a buyer knows the required medicine and presentation but does not have a suitable live batch offer. Instead of circulating an unstructured spreadsheet or email, the buyer attaches the request to one exact medicine record and states the commercial requirements sellers need to assess.
The platform should keep the medicine identity, buyer requirement, supplier response and decision history connected. Access controls matter because product availability, price, expiry and counterparty information are commercial data—not a public catalogue.
02
Information to include before publishing an RFQ
A useful RFQ is precise enough for a supplier to respond without guessing. It should normally include:
- Brand or active ingredient and the exact strength, dosage form and pack size
- A recognised product reference where available, such as a PZN
- Required number of packs and destination country
- Minimum acceptable expiry or remaining shelf life
- Storage profile, including any temperature-controlled requirement
- Required traceability, quality, transport or export documentation
- A realistic response window and any target price used for planning
Important: Do not include patient-identifiable or clinical information in a B2B procurement RFQ.
03
A controlled RFQ decision path
- 01
Select the exact pack
Start from a controlled medicine reference so different strengths or pack sizes are not mixed.
- 02
Publish the requirement privately
Approved sellers see the commercial requirement inside the member workspace.
- 03
Receive structured responses
Each response states quantity, proposed price, origin, expiry, storage and relevant documentation.
- 04
Compare like with like
The buyer compares responses for the same pack and checks material differences before selecting one.
- 05
Send one proposal to review
Selection is not final acceptance. The chosen path moves into administrator and wholesale-partner review.
- 06
Record the accepted outcome
Only an accepted transaction proceeds under the applicable commercial and compliance documents.
04
What buyers should compare beyond price
| Decision factor | Why it matters | Practical check |
|---|---|---|
| Exact presentation | Different strengths and packs are not interchangeable commercial records. | Match brand or ingredient, strength, form, pack and reference code. |
| Available quantity | A quoted quantity may change before acceptance. | Confirm the current pack quantity and allocation period. |
| Expiry | Remaining shelf life affects suitability, routing and value. | Compare the stated expiry with destination and internal acceptance rules. |
| Origin and traceability | The supply route and supporting records must be reviewable. | Request batch, supplier and transaction documentation appropriate to the route. |
| Storage and transport | Temperature excursions can affect product integrity. | Confirm storage profile and the proposed transport controls. |
| Total transaction terms | Pack price alone does not describe the complete commercial proposal. | Review taxes, logistics, insurance, handling and payment terms in final documents. |
05
Where PharmaBatch fits
PharmaBatch provides the private RFQ, response, approval and audit workflow. Buyer-only accounts can publish requests and select a response but cannot list or answer as a seller. Verified seller access includes buying and selling and is limited to eligible legal entities established in the EU-27.
A selected response is passed through platform review and then considered by River Pharma GmbH, Germany, under the stated operating model. A platform match, displayed price or administrator action is not a guarantee of supply or automatic wholesale acceptance.
06
Frequently asked questions
Is an RFQ a medicine order?
No. An RFQ asks eligible sellers for commercial information. A response and buyer selection still require product, party, document and transaction review before any accepted order exists.
Can an RFQ contain several medicines?
For reliable comparison, each RFQ should be attached to one exact medicine presentation. Separate requirements reduce strength, form and pack-size ambiguity.
Can suppliers contact buyers directly?
PharmaBatch keeps participant communication inside controlled workflows and does not expose counterparty contact details during open matching.
Who can respond to an RFQ?
Only an approved account with verified seller permission can respond. Buyer-only accounts cannot sell or answer RFQs.
07
Primary sources
Regulatory statements on this page are grounded in the following official sources. Always check the current record and guidance for a real transaction.