What Desitin Arzneimittel does

Desitin Arzneimittel GmbH is a privately held German specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Hamburg, with a secondary site in Dresden, that develops, manufactures, and distributes prescription medications for neurological and psychiatric diseases. Founded in 1919 and operating under the DESITIN brand, the company is led by Managing Directors Philipp Bloching (CEO) and Oliver Christoph and employs between 101 and 250 people. Its core therapeutic franchises are epilepsy (where it supplies anticonvulsants to more than 150,000 patients in Germany, the largest single-company share of the German antiepileptic market), Parkinson's disease, and rare diseases including Morbus Wilson, Myasthenia gravis, and cystinuria (treated with Thiola). Adjacent product lines include Coldastop nasal oil and wound-healing products.

The company's underlying technology is small-molecule pharmaceutical development and manufacturing rather than software or platform technology, anchored by proprietary assets such as the sulthiame (Sultiam) compound (worldwide rights divested to Apnimed, Inc. in 2024) and a broad portfolio of specialty products including Diazepam DESITIN rectal tubes, Midazolam DESITIN, and potassium bromide. Its commercial engine combines a German field-sales force (Außendienst) targeting neurologists, neuropediatricians, and psychiatrists with a DocCheck-authenticated Fachkreise portal for healthcare professionals, and is supported by the DesiCampus continuing-education platform, the Epilepsie 360° podcast, the epiKurier journal, and the DESITIN Magazin digital publication.

DESITIN generates revenue primarily through prescription pharmaceutical sales in Germany and through distribution partners and country-specific subsidiaries across at least 14 European markets (including Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland). Products are dispensed through hospital and retail pharmacies at prices set under the German statutory health insurance system, with additional revenue from specialty rare-disease franchises and licensing transactions such as the 2024 sale of sulthiame rights to Apnimed. The company has been recognized by SZ-Institut as one of Germany's 300 most crisis-proof companies in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Name

Desitin Arzneimittel

Legal name

DESITIN Arzneimittel GmbH

Website

https://desitin.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Desitin Arzneimittel GmbH is a privately held German pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and distributes prescription medications for epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and rare neurological disorders across 14 European countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neurology Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (32541)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Neurology & Psychiatry (CNS) Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAF), Cold, Flu, Cough & Allergy Remedies (Decongestants, Antihistamines, Cough Syrups, Lozenges) (CRADAMAD)

Keywords

• Neurology pharmaceuticals
• Antiepileptic medications
• Rare disease treatments
• Parkinson disease therapy
• Prescription drug manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Prescription Pharmaceutical Sales: DESITIN generates revenue through the development, manufacturing, and sale of prescription-only (verschreibungspflichtige) pharmaceutical products. The company supplies medications for epilepsy, Parkinson's syndrome, and rare diseases directly to patients in Germany and through international distribution partners across European countries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Desitin Arzneimittel develops, manufactures, and markets prescription-only pharmaceutical products for neurological and psychiatric conditions. Its core portfolio includes antiepileptics (Diazepam DESITIN rectal tubes, Midazolam DESITIN, Kaliumbromid), the nasal-oil product Coldastop Nasen-Öl, anti-Parkinson medications, and rare-disease therapies such as Thiola for cystinuria. Distribution spans German pharmacies and hospitals plus international partners across roughly 14 European countries.

Product overview

DESITIN Arzneimittel GmbH is a German pharmaceutical company specializing in neurological and psychiatric medications, including treatments for epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and rare diseases. The company offers a portfolio of anticonvulsant medications (Diazepam DESITIN, Midazolam DESITIN, Kaliumbromid), products for Parkinson's (dopamine agonists, levodopa information), and rare disease treatments including Thiola for cystinurie. Beyond pharmaceutical products, DESITIN provides extensive patient service materials including educational brochures, exercise videos (Parkinson exercises), the epiKurier journal, the DESITIN Magazin digital publication, the Epilepsie 360° podcast, the DesiCampus continuing education platform for healthcare professionals, and the Facharzt-Service newsletter with CME-certified content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coldastop Nasen-Öl Nasal-oil product for the treatment of nasal congestion, available in 20ml (PZN 01920702) and 10ml (PZN 19421307) variants for adult and pediatric patients.
• Diazepam DESITIN rectal tubes Emergency rescue medication in rectal-tube form for acute epileptic seizures, available in 5mg and 10mg dosages, used by caregivers for out-of-hospital seizure management.
• Midazolam DESITIN Emergency medication for acute seizures, with accompanying application instructions and emergency-treatment agreements for caregivers of epilepsy patients.
• Thiola Prescription medication for the treatment of cystinuria, a rare metabolic disorder causing recurrent kidney stones, distributed to patients through specialty pharmacy channels.
• Kaliumbromid (Potassium Bromide) Anticonvulsant medication in the Desitin epilepsy portfolio, supported by patient guides and used as part of established epilepsy treatment regimens.
• DesiCampus Continuing Education Platform CME-certified continuing education and event platform for neurologists and neuropediatricians, delivering training across the Desitin therapy areas with accreditation points.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 150,000 epilepsy patients in Germany rely on DESITIN's essential anticonvulsant medications - more than any other pharmaceutical company in Germany.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Apnimed, Inc.majorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 February 2024DESITIN sold worldwide rights to sulthiame (an investigational compound for obstructive sleep apnea treatment) to Apnimed, Inc. The transaction included global patents covering sulthiame. DESITIN CEO Philipp Bloching stated DESITIN is proud to have contributed to the clinical development of sulthiame, which demonstrated compelling Phase 2 efficacy data and a favorable safety profile in The Lancet-published study. The compound is now under development by Apnimed for OSA and other sleep-related breathing indications.
• DocCheckcoreTechnology or IntegrationDocCheck provides third-party authentication services enabling medical professionals to access DESITIN's protected Fachkreise (healthcare professional) website content. DocCheck verifies professional credentials before granting access to specialist medical information, Fachinformationen, and clinical data that are restricted under German Heilmittelwerbegesetz (HWG) regulations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AbbVie: Global pharmaceutical major with major neurology franchise including Vraylar and Botox in neurological indications. Broader incumbent with overlapping CNS therapeutic categories though not specialized in DESITIN's niche.

Direct peers

• Eisai: Japanese pharmaceutical company with a major neurology franchise including leading antiepileptic drugs (Fycompa). Comparable to DESITIN as a neurology-focused pharma with established European epilepsy products and rare-disease exposure.
• H. Lundbeck: Danish specialty pharmaceutical company focused exclusively on CNS disorders including epilepsy, Parkinson's, and psychiatric conditions. Highly comparable to DESITIN's CNS specialty positioning, with overlapping therapeutic areas and European specialty distribution model.
• UCB: Belgian specialty pharmaceutical company with a leading epilepsy franchise (Vimpat, Keppra, Briviact) and growing rare-disease portfolio. Directly comparable to DESITIN as a CNS/epilepsy-focused European specialty pharma serving similar prescriber and patient populations.
• Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Ireland-based specialty pharmaceutical company with epilepsy franchise (Epidiolex) and rare neurological disease focus. Comparable to DESITIN's combination of CNS specialty products and orphan-disease assets.
• Bial: Portuguese privately-held pharmaceutical company with strong CNS and Parkinson's disease portfolios (Onapgo, opicapone). Directly comparable to DESITIN as a European specialty pharma focusing on neurology, including both epilepsy and movement disorders.
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals: Global biotechnology company focused on rare diseases including cystic fibrosis. While larger and more research-intensive, Vertex shares DESITIN's rare-disease specialty positioning and premium-pricing orphan-drug model.
• Recordati: Italian specialty pharmaceutical group with European footprint, including rare-disease (Recordati Rare Diseases) and CNS products. Comparable to DESITIN in being a privately controlled European specialty pharma with both neurology and orphan-disease exposure.

Emerging players

• Apnimed: US clinical-stage company developing sulthiame for obstructive sleep apnea, having acquired worldwide rights from DESITIN in 2024. Comparable as a counterparty and emerging player in the sleep-disordered breathing space where DESITIN previously held the asset.

Regional players

• Stada Arzneimittel: German-headquartered specialty and generic pharmaceutical company with strong CNS portfolio and European footprint. Comparable to DESITIN in operating from Germany with CNS emphasis, though broader portfolio including generics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xxing.com/pages/desitinarzneimittelgmbh
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-xT4G8J8UOf-P0OI_YuJdg
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Desitin-Deutschland/61576366766357
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/desitin-arzneimittel-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/desitin_deutschland

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Desitin Arzneimittel