Paion
PAION is a German specialty biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine sedatives (Byfavo®/remimazolam) and in-licensed intensive-care products (GIAPREZA, XERAVA) for hospital-based anesthesia and critical care; its operating business was acquired by China's Humanwell Healthcare Group in February 2024 following insolvency of the listed parent.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersAachen, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Paion does
PAION AG was a German specialty biopharmaceutical company founded in 2000 in Aachen, focused on developing and commercializing intravenous, ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine sedative/anesthetic compounds for hospital-based sedation, anesthesia and critical care. Its lead asset is Byfavo® (remimazolam), approved across seven major jurisdictions (U.S., EU/EEA/UK, China, Japan, South Korea, Philippines) for procedural sedation and/or general anesthesia; two further marketed products, GIAPREZA (angiotensin II) and XERAVA (eravacycline), were in-licensed from La Jolla in 2021 for European distribution.
The company monetizes Byfavo® through direct commercialization in selected European markets and through licensing royalties from regional partners covering the rest of the world, and markets GIAPREZA/XERAVA in selected European countries under the La Jolla license. Distribution has been built via a 'string of pearls' partner model: Viatris (Europe), Cosmo (U.S.), Mundipharma (Japan), Yichang Humanwell (China) and Cristalia (Latin America). Following liquidity problems surfaced in late 2023, PAION AG filed for insolvency in January 2024 and transferred its operating business to a newly created PAION Pharma GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China's Humanwell Healthcare Group, on February 24, 2024; PAION AG i.L. is being wound up and shareholders are not expected to receive insolvency-distribution payments.
Paion firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Paion
- Legal name
- PAION AG
- Website
- https://paion.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PAION is a German specialty biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine sedatives (Byfavo®/remimazolam) and in-licensed intensive-care products (GIAPREZA, XERAVA) for hospital-based anesthesia and critical care; its operating business was acquired by China's Humanwell Healthcare Group in February 2024 following insolvency of the listed parent.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Paion industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Pharmaceuticals (Sedation, Anesthesia and Critical Care)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAA)
Keywords
Where Paion is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aachen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Paion business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Product Sales (Byfavo®): Direct commercialization of Byfavo® (remimazolam) in selected European markets through PAION's own sales efforts.
- Licensing Royalties: Byfavo® is partnered in multiple territories outside of Europe through licensing agreements, generating royalty revenues from licensee sales.
- Intensive Care Product Licensing: Marketing of GIAPREZA (angiotensin II) and XERAVA (eravacycline) in selected European countries through licensing agreement with La Jolla.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Paion product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PAION is a specialty biopharmaceutical company that develops, registers, and commercializes intravenous hospital-based drugs for sedation, anesthesia and critical care. Its lead product Byfavo (remimazolam) is an ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine sedative/anesthetic approved in the U.S., EU/EEA/UK, China, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. The company also markets GIAPREZA (angiotensin II) for refractory hypotension and XERAVA (eravacycline) for complicated intra-abdominal infections in selected European countries under a licensing agreement with La Jolla.
Product overview
PAION AG i.L. was a specialty pharmaceutical company with a portfolio of three marketed pharmaceutical products. The core product was Byfavo® (remimazolam), an intravenous ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine sedative/anesthetic for procedural sedation and general anesthesia. The company also marketed two intensive care products: GIAPREZA (Angiotensin II), a vasoconstrictor for refractory hypotension, and XERAVA (eravacycline), a novel fluorocycline antibiotic for complicated intra-abdominal infections. As of January 2024, insolvency proceedings were opened and the operating business was transferred to PAION Pharma GmbH as a subsidiary of Humanwell Healthcare Group.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Byfavo®: Brand name for Remimazolam, an intravenous, ultra-short-acting and controllable benzodiazepine sedative/anesthetic for procedural sedation and general anesthesia.
- GIAPREZA™
- XERAVA™
Products and services
- Byfavo (remimazolam) Intravenous ultra-short-acting and controllable benzodiazepine sedative/anesthetic for procedural sedation and general anesthesia; approved in the U.S., EU/EEA/UK, China, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines. Marketed to hospital-based anesthesiologists, sedation teams and procedural units.
- GIAPREZA (angiotensin II) Vasoconstrictor (angiotensin II) indicated for the treatment of refractory hypotension in adults with septic or other distributive shock; marketed in selected European countries under license from La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company for use in intensive care settings.
- XERAVA (eravacycline) Novel fluorocycline antibiotic (eravacycline) indicated for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections in adults; marketed in selected European countries under license from La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company for hospital use.
Companies that use Paion
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Paion technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Paion partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.
- ViatriscoreDistribution partnership with Viatris for Europe covering the commercialization and distribution of PAION's products, announced as part of PAION's European market expansion strategy.
- CristaliaregionalPartnership with Cristalia for Latin America covering commercialization of PAION's products in the region.
- Humanwell Healthcare GroupcoreAgreement on assignment of patent rights in 2022 transferred all Chinese remimazolam patents and related future royalties to Humanwell. Humanwell had held an exclusive remimazolam license for the Chinese market since 2012 via subsidiary Yichang Humanwell. In 2023-2024, Humanwell acquired PAION's business operations through insolvency proceedings.
- La JollacoreLicensing agreement with La Jolla for GIAPREZA™ (angiotensin II) and XERAVA™ (eravacycline) in Europe, added to PAION's portfolio at the beginning of 2021.
- MundipharmaregionalMundipharma filed for remimazolam approval in general anesthesia in Japan in 2018.
- Cosmo PharmaceuticalscoreCosmo became the U.S. partner for Remimazolam development and commercialization in 2016. Cosmo submitted the new drug application for remimazolam in the U.S. in 2019.
- Yichang HumanwellregionalExclusive remimazolam license agreement for Chinese market since 2012. Filed for procedural sedation approval in China in 2018.
- LundbeckminorSale of all Desmoteplase rights to Lundbeck for EUR 20 million in 2012, allowing PAION to accelerate Remimazolam development.
- Forest Inc.minorAgreement with Forest Inc. for Desmoteplase in North American markets (2004).
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Paion competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mundipharma: PAION's licensee for Byfavo in Japan; a specialty pharma partner operating in the same remimazolam/sedation category with similar partner-distribution economics.
- La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (Innoviva): Originator/licensor of GIAPREZA and XERAVA marketed by PAION in Europe; an ICU hospital specialty pharma peer sharing PAION's product overlap in refractory hypotension and intra-abdominal infections.
- Pacira BioSciences: Specialty pharmaceutical company focused on non-opioid hospital-based therapies including anesthesia adjacents (e.g., Exparel), targeting the same hospital buyer base with differentiated pharmacology for procedural care.
- Yichang Humanwell: Long-standing exclusive licensee for Byfavo in China and core channel partner driving Chinese royalty revenue; comparable as the China commercialization vehicle for PAION's lead asset.
- Cosmo Pharmaceuticals: PAION's U.S. development and commercialization partner for Byfavo (remimazolam) and direct licensee; comparable as a specialty pharma company commercializing the same compound in the same hospital procedural sedation market.
Broad incumbents
- Viatris: European distribution partner for Byfavo and a broad specialty/generic pharma incumbent; overlapping commercial infrastructure in European hospital channels relevant to PAION's go-to-market.
- Hikma Pharmaceuticals: Specialty/injectable pharma company with a hospital salesforce comparable to PAION's chosen model; addresses the same hospital anesthesia/ICU buyers across multiple geographies.
Emerging players
- Acacia Pharma Group: Hospital-focused specialty pharma commercializing products for procedural/post-operative care settings; overlaps with PAION's hospital specialty strategy and ICU/procedural buyer segments.
- Eagle Pharmaceuticals (Acrotech Biopharma): Specialty pharma developing and commercializing differentiated injectable hospital products, addressing overlapping anesthesia/critical care buyer call points and comparable in-licensing and partner-driven model.
Regional players
- Cristalia: PAION's LatAm distribution partner for Byfavo and a regional specialty pharma in Brazil; relevant comparable for LatAm commercialization of the same compound.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Paion social profiles
Digital presencePaion compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Paion financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Paion leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Paion subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Paion funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Paion M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Paion
What does Paion do?
PAION is a specialty biopharmaceutical company that develops, registers, and commercializes intravenous hospital-based drugs for sedation, anesthesia and critical care. Its lead product Byfavo (remimazolam) is an ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine sedative/anesthetic approved in the U.S., EU/EEA/UK, China, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. The company also markets GIAPREZA (angiotensin II) for refractory hypotension and XERAVA (eravacycline) for complicated intra-abdominal infections in selected European countries under a licensing agreement with La Jolla.
Is Paion a public or private company?
Paion is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently closed.
When was Paion founded?
Paion was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Paion based?
Paion is headquartered in Aachen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Paion make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (Byfavo®) is the primary driver. The others are licensing Royalties and intensive Care Product Licensing.
Who are Paion's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mundipharma, La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (Innoviva), Pacira BioSciences, Yichang Humanwell and Cosmo Pharmaceuticals. Broad incumbents are Viatris and Hikma Pharmaceuticals. Emerging players are Acacia Pharma Group and Eagle Pharmaceuticals (Acrotech Biopharma). Cristalia is listed as a regional player.
Does Paion have an API?
No public API is recorded for Paion.
What industry is Paion in?
Paion's product category is Specialty Pharmaceuticals (Sedation, Anesthesia and Critical Care). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAA, Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals.