WindStar Medical GmbH

What WindStar Medical GmbH does

WindStar Medical GmbH was a German healthcare products manufacturer and supplier headquartered in Frankfurt, founded in 2008. The company operated in the over-the-counter (OTC) consumer healthcare market, producing both private-label and branded products for retail and pharmacy distribution. Its product portfolio spanned categories including cold remedies, bath and body care, dietary supplements, foot care, and wellness items. The company employed 101-250 staff and operated primarily in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).

Effective January 2, 2025, WindStar Medical merged with Merz Lifecare, a division of the family-owned Merz Group (fourth generation). The combination creates a substantially larger OTC and consumer health platform with 11 brands — including tetesept, SOS, Zirkulin, Merz Spezial, Brooklyn Soap Company, Burgit, Savoderm med, Depilan, Daytox, and Beautyglam — encompassing 650+ products distributed across 25 countries from 5 DACH-anchored locations. The combined entity positions itself as a major DACH-region OTC player, with products spanning health, wellness, body care, and natural beauty for consumers from babies to seniors. WindStar Medical ceased to operate as an independent entity post-merger; its operations are now integrated under Merz Lifecare, which retains private ownership.

The business model centers on branded consumer healthcare sales through retail, pharmacy, and direct-to-consumer channels, alongside private-label manufacturing services. Revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed. The company received venture funding from Project A Ventures in December 2020. Post-merger governance runs through Merz Lifecare leadership under the Merz Group umbrella, with CEO René Flaschker associated with WindStar Medical prior to the combination.

Name

WindStar Medical GmbH

Legal name

WindStar Medical GmbH

Website

https://windstar-medical.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

WindStar Medical GmbH manufactured and supplied OTC healthcare and personal care products for private-label and branded distribution in the DACH market, merging with Merz Lifecare in January 2025 to form a larger 11-brand, 25-country consumer health platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Healthcare Products (OTC)

NAICS

Health and Personal Care Retailers (456)

SIC

Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)

akta.pro primary industry

Cold, Flu, Cough & Allergy Remedies (Decongestants, Antihistamines, Cough Syrups, Lozenges) (CRADAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

OTC Pain Relief & Fever (Analgesics, Anti-inflammatory, Topical Pain Relief) (CRADAMAC), OTC Medicines & Consumer Health Products Distribution (CRAOAHAB)

Keywords

• OTC healthcare products
• Consumer health manufacturing
• Private label pharma
• Wellness and body care
• Branded health products

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Core offering

WindStar Medical GmbH manufactured and supplied over-the-counter (OTC) healthcare products for both private-label and branded product lines in Germany. Following its January 2025 merger with Merz Lifecare, the combined entity offers a portfolio of 11 consumer brands spanning health, wellness, body care, and natural beauty categories, including bath additives, cold remedies, vitamins, foot care, medical skincare, men's care, clean skincare, and facial care products distributed in 25 countries.

Product overview

WindStar Medical GmbH merged with Merz Lifecare effective January 2, 2025. The combined entity operates as Merz Lifecare, offering a portfolio of 11 consumer healthcare, wellness, and beauty brands in the DACH region. The brands include tetesept (health and wellbeing products including bath additives, cold remedies), SOS (acute problem solvers), Zirkulin (health products with psyllium husks), Merz Spezial (beauty products), Brooklyn Soap Company (men's care), Burgit (foot care), Savoderm med (medical skincare), Depilan (cosmetic hair removal), Daytox (clean skincare), and Beautyglam (facial care). Products span health, wellness, body care, and natural beauty for consumers from babies to seniors. The company distributes to 25 countries worldwide from 5 locations in the German-speaking region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• tetesept Consumer health and wellbeing brand offering products including bath additives and cold remedies, sold in Germany and Austria.
• SOS Brand positioned as an acute problem-solver for consumer self-care needs, sold in Germany and Austria.
• Zirkulin Health products based on psyllium husks for digestive health, sold in Germany and Austria.
• Merz Spezial Beauty products offering science-based skin care and beauty solutions, sold in Germany and Austria.
• Brooklyn Soap Company Men's grooming brand offering natural personal care products, sold in Germany and Austria.
• Burgit Foot care specialist brand offering creams and treatments, sold in Germany and Austria.
• Savoderm med Medical skincare brand offering pH-balanced cleansers and skin care for sensitive skin, sold in Germany and Austria.
• Depilan Cosmetic hair removal brand, sold in Germany and Austria.
• Daytox Clean skincare brand featuring serums and clean-beauty formulations, sold in Germany and Austria.
• Beautyglam Facial care brand offering serums and inclusive skin care, sold in Germany and Austria.
• Private label healthcare products Contract manufacturing and supply of OTC healthcare products sold under retailer-owned private-label brands, serving retail partners in Germany and the DACH region.

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Merz LifecarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 January 2025WindStar Medical and Merz Lifecare completed a merger effective January 2, 2025, forming a combined entity positioned to become a major player in the OTC (over-the-counter) market. The merger brings together WindStar Medical's operations with Merz Lifecare's portfolio of 11 brands and 650+ products spanning health, wellness, body care, and natural beauty categories. The combined entity operates across 25 countries with 5 locations in the German-speaking region.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/windstar-medical-ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WindStar Medical GmbH