CIS Pharma

What CIS Pharma does

CIS Pharma AG is a privately-held Swiss life sciences company founded in 1952 in Basel and headquartered in Bubendorf, in the Basel Life Sciences cluster. The company develops and licenses proprietary technologies across three platforms: ophthalmology (the Cefuroxime Application System, a patented drug/device combination for intracameral antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent endophthalmitis in cataract surgery), eyecare (bio-inspired contact lens care solutions with industry-leading hyaluronic acid concentration for disinfection and comfort), and biomaterials (a proprietary polymer platform for tissue regeneration, PEEK implant coatings, contact lens coatings, and 3D-printed scaffolds). The underlying technology rests on a bio-inspired synthetic polymer platform developed by founder Werner Schäfer, with demonstrated biocompatibility — no cytotoxic, allergic, or hemolytic potential — and a toolkit for creating biomaterials specific to application and site of use.

The company generates revenue primarily through B2B technology licensing agreements with pharmaceutical and medtech market leaders worldwide, supplemented by direct product launches in Europe (Cefuroxime) and Switzerland (contact lens care). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Licensees receive patent rights, regulatory dossiers, and supply of drug and proprietary devices, while CIS Pharma develops client-specific contact lens care products based on its patented platform. Historical contract manufacturing (Amcis AG, supplying API to Alcon) was divested in 2000 to refocus resources on proprietary technology development.

CIS Pharma is an independent family business under third-generation Schäfer family leadership, with no disclosed institutional investors or external funding. The customer base is concentrated among a small set of "world-leading" pharma and medtech partners, with Alcon being the most historically significant relationship. Headcount is reported at 11–50 employees, and the company operates from a single campus in Bubendorf, Switzerland, supported by laboratories in the Basel pharma/biotech cluster.

Name

CIS Pharma

Legal name

CIS Pharma AG

Website

https://cis-pharma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CIS Pharma AG is a privately-held Swiss life sciences company founded in 1952 that develops and licenses proprietary drug/device combinations, bio-inspired contact lens care solutions, and polymer biomaterials for ophthalmology and tissue regeneration, serving global pharmaceutical and medtech market leaders through B2B licensing agreements from its Bubendorf, Switzerland headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmic Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113), Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Ophthalmology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ophthalmology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAL)

Keywords

• Ophthalmic drug delivery
• Contact lens care
• Biomedical polymers
• Cataract surgery devices
• Drug-device combinations

Headquarters

HQ city

Bubendorf

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: Licensing of proprietary technologies including drug/device patents, biomaterial platforms, and contact lens care formulations to pharmaceutical and medtech market leaders globally. License available worldwide for products like the Cefuroxime Application System.
2. Proprietary Product Development and Launch: Development and launch of proprietary therapies in ophthalmology and eyecare. Products include Cefuroxime Application System (launched in Europe) and contact lens care (launched in Switzerland).
3. Contract Manufacturing (Historical): Historical contract manufacturing operations including spin-off Amcis AG supplying API to Alcon. These operations were divested in 2000 to focus on proprietary technology development.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CIS Pharma develops and licenses proprietary ophthalmology, eyecare, and biomaterials technologies, including a patented Cefuroxime drug/device combination for endophthalmitis prophylaxis in cataract surgery, bio-inspired contact lens care formulations, and a proprietary polymer biomaterials platform for tissue regeneration and implant applications. The company monetizes these primarily through worldwide technology licensing agreements with pharmaceutical and medtech market leaders, with select proprietary product launches in Europe and Switzerland.

Product overview

CIS Pharma is a Swiss Life Sciences company pioneering therapies in ophthalmology and eyecare since 1952. The company operates across three core product areas: the Cefuroxime Application System for intracameral antibiotic prophylaxis in cataract surgery, bioinspired Contact Lens Care Products for cleaning and disinfection of contact lenses, and a Biomaterials Platform of proprietary polymers for tissue regeneration applications. Technologies are licensed to global pharmaceutical and medical device partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cefuroxime Application System A patented drug/device combination that enables safe, precise, and standardized preparation and injection of 1mg cefuroxime intracameral antibiotic to prevent endophthalmitis during cataract surgery. Targeted at ophthalmologists and cataract surgeons performing intraocular lens procedures.
• Bio-inspired Contact Lens Care Products Bio-inspired contact lens care solutions for cleaning, disinfection, and storage of silicone hydrogel and rigid gas permeable contact lenses, including ORTHO-K lenses. Features superior disinfecting power against bacteria, fungi, and acanthamoeba, and contains an unsurpassed concentration of hyaluronic acid for enhanced wear comfort. Targeted at contact lens wearers via partner distribution.
• Biomaterials Polymer Platform A proprietary platform of bio-inspired synthetic polymers and a toolkit to create biomaterials specific to their application and site of use. Applications include contact lens coatings, membranes for soft and hard tissue implants, PEEK surface coatings for improved implant integration, and 3D-printed scaffolds for extracellular matrices. Targeted at biomedical device manufacturers and research organizations requiring biocompatible materials.
• Cefuroxime Worldwide License Package A worldwide licensing package for the Cefuroxime Application System granting license to the drug/device patent, the dossier for approval of cefuroxime, and supply of the drug and proprietary devices. Targeted at pharmaceutical and medtech industry partners seeking differentiated intracameral antibiotic prophylaxis technology.
• Contact Lenscare Worldwide License Package A worldwide licensing package for CIS Pharma's patented bio-inspired contact lens care products, including client-specific product development based on the patented platform for silicone hydrogel and ORTHO-K/RGP contact lenses. Targeted at pharmaceutical and medtech industry partners seeking differentiated contact lens care technology.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cefuroxime intracameral prophylaxis reduces risk of endophthalmitis by factor of 5
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AlconcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHistorical licensing and contract manufacturing partnership. Amcis AG spin-off supplied Alcon with API. Collaboration with Alcon drove company's growth and established core competency in ophthalmology molecule synthesis and scale-up. Technologies licensed to Alcon for commercialization.
• Carbogen-AmciscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarbogen-Amcis occupies facilities on CIS Pharma's Bubendorf campus. Represents continued relationship with spinoff company maintaining operations at company headquarters. New facilities in 2003 served as home of Carbogen-Amcis.
• World-leading Research and Marketing OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCIS Pharma's technologies are licensed to market leaders in their category around the world. Partners bring products to market through research and marketing capabilities, enabling global distribution of innovations in ophthalmology and eyecare.
• Physicians and Patient OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTherapies developed in collaboration with physicians and patient organizations, ensuring clinical relevance and patient-centered innovation in ophthalmology product development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Nicox: European specialty ophthalmology company focused on innovative therapeutics and diagnostics for eye diseases. Comparable as an emerging specialty ophthalmology player with a licensing/partnership-driven growth model similar to CIS Pharma.
• Kala Bio: Specialty biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for rare and serious eye diseases, including drug-device combination approaches. Comparable as an emerging specialty ophthalmology player with overlapping drug/device combination focus.
• PolyActiva: Clinical-stage company developing bioerodible drug/polymer combination implants for ophthalmology, including intracameral and intravitreal applications. Closely comparable to CIS Pharma's biomaterials and drug/device combination technology in ophthalmology.

Broad incumbents

• Santen Pharmaceutical: Established Japanese specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated exclusively to ophthalmology with global presence across prescription and OTC eyecare. Comparable as a broader incumbent player in the ophthalmology specialty pharma space where CIS Pharma operates.
• Alcon: Global leader in eye care spanning surgical, vision care, and pharmaceuticals. CIS Pharma has historical API supply and licensing relationship with Alcon and operates in the same ophthalmology category, making Alcon both a historical partner and a broad incumbent peer.
• Bausch + Lomb: Major global ophthalmic goods company with broad portfolio across pharmaceuticals, contact lens care, surgical devices, and consumer eyecare. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose contact lens care and ophthalmic surgery portfolios overlap with CIS Pharma's product lines.
• Carl Zeiss Meditec: Global medical technology company for ophthalmology and microsurgery, providing surgical microscopes, diagnostic devices, and IOL-related solutions. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the ophthalmic surgical device ecosystem where CIS Pharma's Cefuroxime Application System operates.

Direct peers

• EyePoint Pharmaceuticals: Specialty pharmaceutical company developing bioerodible drug/device combination implants for ophthalmic diseases, including sustained-release intravitreal and intracameral delivery. Comparable as a drug/device combination specialist in ophthalmology.
• Ocular Therapeutix: US-based specialty pharmaceutical and drug/device combination developer focused on ophthalmology, including sustained-release intracameral and punctal plug technologies. Directly comparable to CIS Pharma's drug/device combination approach in ophthalmology.
• Laboratoires Théa: Family-owned European specialty ophthalmology pharmaceutical company with a similar focus on differentiated prescription eyecare products and licensing/partnering model. Théa is a directly comparable specialty ophthalmology peer with comparable commercial approach and European footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CISPharma
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cis-pharma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 CIS Pharma