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Afaxys Pharma — which supplies "family planning clinics" and Planned Parenthood facilities, universities, and others with birth control and emergency contraceptives — has received $8 million in funding from an abortion pill investor, allegedly for "improving access to affordable contraceptives across the United States." And a former Planned Parenthood manager is set to lead the for-profit company.
Key Takeaways:
A 'contraceptive' pharmacy heavily tied to Planned Parenthood and at least one abortion pill distributor has received millions from two foundations — one of which is one of the largest global funders of abortion.
The funding, from the Packard Foundation and an anonymous foundation, is allegedly earmarked for a "novel contraceptive product" to be promoted to "marginalized communities."
Internal Planned Parenthood documents have reportedly referred to the for-profit pharmacy as being "Planned Parenthood affiliated."
The Details:
A recent release published at Newsweek noted that the $8 million given to Afaxys came from well-known abortion pill investor, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and an "anonymous" foundation. Where we see Packard funding, we often also see funding from the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation (Warren Buffett), which has been frequently revealed later as the "anonymous" donor.
The release also stated that Christian Bloomgren, a "former general manager at Planned Parenthood Federation North America," will "take over" Afaxys — and he is not the first executive with ties to both Planned Parenthood and Afaxys.
Third investment from Packard shows 'long-standing partnership'
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation invested $14.2 million in abortion pill manufacturer Danco Laboratories in 1996 and is today investing millions in the first generic version of the drug made by GenBioPro, as well as funding clinical trial sponsors, study sites, and authors. An August 2025 press release describes the foundation's funding of Afaxys (emphases added):
The capital includes a $3 million program-related investment (PRI) from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and a $5 million grant from an anonymous foundation. This marks the third investment from the Packard Foundation since Afaxys was founded in 2008, underscoring the long-standing partnership and confidence in Afaxys’ impact-driven model.
... Afaxys plays a critical role in ensuring reliable supply chains for clinics that serve Medicaid and Title X patients. The funding will be used to complete the development of a novel contraceptive product, specifically designed to address the needs of marginalized communities and the more than 19 million women living in contraceptive deserts.
... The Afaxys enterprise comprises a family of companies that operate under three wholly owned subsidiaries: Afaxys Pharma, LLC, Afaxys Drug Development, LLC and Afaxys Group Services, LLC (AGS). Afaxys Pharma provides a broad portfolio of branded and generic contraceptives to the public healthcare market. Afaxys Drug Development provides development and regulatory services of pharmaceutical products with a focus on rapid and efficient launch readiness to promote Afaxys’ strategic goal of cost-conscious product commercialization. AGS is a strategic sourcing operation that negotiates favorable pricing across a broad base of products and services through its Group Purchasing Organization. For more information, visit www.afaxys.com.
Packard Foundation seeded Danco with $14M in early days 2014 AR
Packard's 2016 report claimed, "The Packard Foundation provided a $4.5 million low-interest loan to serve as growth capital to expand Afaxys to a national presence and enabled it to launch its private label contraceptives."
Afaxys (the name of which is a combination of "affordable" and "access"), located in Charleston, South Carolina, "serves more than 6,700 health care sites and the launch of multiple contraceptive products."
Ties to Planned Parenthood
Afaxys is an Amazon retailer and was co-founded in 2008 by current CEORonda Dean, who claimed she received contraceptives from Planned Parenthood as a teen and went on to work as vice president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
An archived website from Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS) claimed Afaxys was also co-founded by Sarah Stoesz, PPMNS's former President & CEO, who remains as Board Chair of Afaxys.
According to PharmaVoice.com, Afaxys "licenses products and provides them under its own label to the public healthcare market" and "offers 12 different products: 10 oral contraceptives, an emergency contraceptive and injectable anesthetic lidocaine, its first non-contraceptive product." The website noted:
Afaxys also has its own drug currently in development — although Dean wouldn’t divulge much about it, she said it was “a new form of contraception” that “will be of great interest.”
A report published by American Life League (ALL) added that "Afaxys is essentially part of the Planned Parenthood empire":
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At least one internal Planned Parenthood document refers to Afaxys as “a Planned Parenthood affiliated company.”
The company was cofounded by a group of individuals that includes many current and former Planned Parenthood executives. Its primary founder and CEO, Ronda Dean, was vice president at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Its board of directors includes current CEOs of at least three Planned Parenthood affiliates.
At least some Planned Parenthood affiliates have provided start-up funds to Afaxys and have received company stock in return.
Afaxys markets its own contraceptive products at a profit. In addition, it enters into agreements with other pharmaceutical companies to establish contracts with members of the public health facilities. Since Afaxys is not a nonprofit, there is a profit motive behind its operations.
The late Jim Sedlak, a former ALL executive, noted (emphasis added):
Afaxys was established in large part by Planned Parenthood personnel, and the seed money was obtained in large part by investments in Afaxys by Planned Parenthood affiliates across the country. Although Afaxys will undoubtedly claim that it is a separate company and not part of Planned Parenthood, our report shows all the connections and even cites a Planned Parenthood affiliate as describing Afaxys as "a Planned Parenthood affiliated company."
Beginning in 2008, Afaxys began operating a group purchasing organization. The purpose of this GPO was to sign on clinics and centers (including Planned Parenthood facilities) as "partners" and to negotiate reduced prices for birth control products from the manufacturers.
In 2013 Afaxys announced a new division, Afaxys Pharmaceuticals, which has become a manufacturer of generic birth control products.
With this, Planned Parenthood and its "affiliated company" now have their tentacles into every step of the birth control supply chain.
Afaxys' website claims the company believes "access to reproductive healthcare should be a right, not a privilege."
Ties to Abortion Pill Distributors
The Afaxys Group Services, LLC, which offers members negotiated contract pricing, also lists the first generic abortion pill maker, GenBioPro (GBP) as a "partner." In addition, it lists AmerisourceBergen and HPSrx as "distributors."
Given that GBP only offers generic drugs associated with the abortion pill regimen — mifepristone (200mg) and misoprostol — it is possible that Afaxys is negotiating contract pricing for abortion drugs from GenBioPro.
Live Action News previously documented that GBP appears to be working with pharmacies associated with the Good Neighbor Pharmacy (GNP), a national independent pharmacy networkoffered through AmerisourceBergen (recently renamedCencora), one of the largestpharmaceutical distributioncompanies in the world. AmerisourceBergen also happens to be a large distributor of Mifeprex, according to Vox News.
In addition, HPSrx appears to have ties to Robert Patane, assumed to be the president of the second generic pill company, Evita Solutions, LLC.
What's Happening:
Last week, the head of Afaxys announced her retirement, effective January 2, 2026, when Chief Commercial Officer Christian Bloomgren will take over as the new CEO.
A news release about the change in leadership stated:
Bloomgren joined Afaxys in January 2024 from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was an entrepreneur-in-residence working with startups in the life sciences industry...
Before Afaxys, [cofounder Ronda] Dean was leading a 300-person team at Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals, a division of Warner Lambert, before its merger with Pfizer in 2000, and was a general manager at Planned Parenthood Federation North America.
Bloomgren is among many Planned Parenthood staffers connected to Afaxys. According to the video below, uploaded by ALL in 2017:
Ronda Dean worked for three years as vice president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and left in 2008 to become cofounder, president, and CEO of Afaxys.
Christine Charbonneau, CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest, was a cofounder of Afaxys and is chair of Afaxys’ board of directors.
Sarah Stoesz was CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and is a cofounder of Afaxys.
Don Boychuk formerly held CAO, COO, and CFO positions at Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (2005-2014) and left in 2014 to become the national account manager at Afaxys Pharmaceuticals.
Lori Carpentier, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Michigan, served first as a member and now chair of 416 Holdings, Inc. — the parent company for Afaxys Pharmaceuticals.
Live Action News also identified Kelly R. Culwell, who formerly worked for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest and went on to be an Afaxys Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer.
Live Action News will continue to monitor these potential connections to the abortion pill.
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Investigative·By Carole Novielli
