Dermapharm

Name

Dermapharm

Legal name

Dermapharm Holding SE

Website

https://dermapharm.de

Company type

Public

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Branded Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (32541), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)

akta.pro primary industry

Dermatology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dermatology & Aesthetics Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAK), Topical & Dermatology Generics (HLAIABAE), Dermocosmetics & Medical-Grade Skincare (CRABAAAF)

Keywords

• Branded pharmaceuticals
• Dermatological products
• Cannabinoid medicines
• OTC medications
• Parallel import pharmaceuticals

Headquarters

HQ city

Grünwald

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Branded Pharmaceuticals (Markenarzneimittel): Core revenue driver; includes branded generics and prescription/OTC pharmaceutical products developed and manufactured in-house, distributed via a pharmaceutical-trained external sales force. This segment is the primary growth engine, posting 11.7% revenue growth in Q1 2026.
2. Other Healthcare Products: Encompasses herbal medicines (e.g., Arkopharma), food supplements, topical dermatological products, and other health-related products. Includes Montavit (Austria), Arkopharma (France), and other brand acquisitions.
3. Parallel Import Business: Parallel importation of pharmaceutical products, which has been undergoing scheduled wind-down/portfolio optimization, leading to planned revenue declines in this segment.
4. Contract Manufacturing / BioNTech Cooperation: Contract manufacturing operations, notably the COVID-19 vaccine production cooperation with BioNTech SE, which contributed high double-digit million euro revenue in 2021. Now substantially wound down following pandemic phase.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dermapharm is a growth-oriented manufacturer of branded pharmaceuticals and other healthcare products operating an integrated in-house development, production, and distribution model. It sells branded generics, prescription and OTC medications across dermatology, allergies, pain, neurology, oncology (cannabinoid/dronabinol), and cardiovascular health, plus herbal medicines, food supplements, and parallel-imported drugs, distributed through a pharmaceutical-trained external sales force to pharmacies and healthcare professionals across Germany and wider Europe.

Product overview

Dermapharm is a growth-oriented manufacturer of branded pharmaceuticals and other healthcare products with an integrated business model encompassing in-house development, production, and distribution through a pharmaceutical-trained sales force. The company operates across three main segments: Branded Pharmaceuticals (prescription and OTC medications including Dekristolvit®, herpotherm® neo, Keltican® forte, Minoxicutan®, Ketozolin®, and Tromcardin® complex), Other Healthcare Products (herbal medicines and supplements), and Parallel Import Business. The company holds over 1,400 drug approvals and maintains a pipeline of more than 50 ongoing development projects, with production primarily based in Germany (main site in Brehna near Leipzig) and operations across Europe and the USA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dekristolvit: Vitamin D supplement product
• herpotherm
• Keltican
• Minoxicutan
• Ketozolin
• Tromcardin

Products and services

• Dekristolvit Vitamin D supplement offering individualized dosing for different life stages and needs, sold as an OTC product through pharmacies in Germany.
• herpotherm neo Heat-based medical device (herpes warming pen) for treating lip herpes, distributed through German pharmacies.
• Keltican forte Branded nerve-regeneration supplement supporting the body's own regeneration of peripheral nerves, sold through pharmacies.
• Minoxicutan Minoxidil-based affordable alternative hair growth treatment for hair loss, sold OTC through pharmacies.
• Ketozolin 2% shampoo for treating dandruff and itching on scalp and body, sold OTC through pharmacies.
• Tromcardin complex Established electrolyte combination with vitamin B1 for healthy heart function, sold as a branded product through pharmacies.
• Dronabinol Products Cannabinoid-based pharmaceutical products used in pain, oncology, and neurology treatments; Dermapharm holds market leadership in dronabinol in Germany/Austria via the C³ Group acquired in 2022.
• Branded Pharmaceuticals Segment Core business segment encompassing prescription and OTC branded medications across dermatology, allergies, neurology, cardiology, and pain management, distributed via Dermapharm's pharmaceutical-trained external sales force.
• Other Healthcare Products Business segment covering herbal medicines, food supplements, and other health-related products, including the Arkopharma and Montavit brands.
• Parallel Import Pharmaceuticals (Axicorp) Parallel importation of branded pharmaceutical products from other EU markets into Germany at different price points, operated via subsidiary Axicorp; undergoing scheduled wind-down as part of portfolio optimization.
• Allergopharma Allergy Immunotherapy Products Allergen immunotherapy and vaccine products marketed through Dermapharm's wholly owned subsidiary Allergopharma GmbH & Co. KG, acquired in 2020.

Quantifiable outcome

• Q1 2026 revenue of €305.8 million, up 1.1% YoY
• +4 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Canopy Growth Germany GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2021Dermapharm acquired the C³ Cannabinoid Compound Company GmbH (C³ Group) from Canopy Growth Germany GmbH for an upfront payment of EUR 80 million plus possible additional earnout payments based on future milestones. The acquisition was completed on January 31, 2022, and includes subsidiaries in Germany and Austria. It strengthens Dermapharm's position as a market leader in dronabinol, a cannabinoid used in pain, oncology, and neurology treatments.
• BioNTech SEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 2020Dermapharm signed a cooperation and delivery agreement with BioNTech SE for the production of a COVID-19 vaccine. The cooperation was expected to contribute high double-digit million euro in revenue in 2021. Dermapharm expanded capacity at subsidiary Allergopharma for vaccine manufacturing, and Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn opened the facility in April 2021. The pandemic-phase vaccine cooperation has since wound down substantially.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Almirall S.A. Almirall is a Barcelona-based specialty pharmaceutical company focused on dermatology, offering branded prescription and OTC products across skin conditions. Both companies share a dermatology-focused specialty pharma identity with European distribution footprints and similar therapeutic area coverage.
• Pierre Fabre Group: Pierre Fabre is a French pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmetics company with strong dermatology, oncology, and consumer healthcare portfolios. Its integrated pharma + dermocosmetics model across French and broader European markets is closely comparable to Dermapharm's branded specialty and OTC dermatology business.
• Galderma S.A. Galderma is a Switzerland-based pure-play dermatology company specializing in prescription, OTC, and aesthetic skin products. As one of the largest dermatology-focused pharmaceutical companies globally, Galderma represents a direct competitive peer in Dermapharm's core therapeutic category.
• Stada Arzneimittel AG: Stada is a German specialty and generic pharmaceuticals company headquartered in Bad Vilbel. Both companies operate integrated pharmaceutical manufacturing models with branded generics, OTC products, and specialty pharma portfolios distributed primarily through German pharmacy channels — making Stada Dermapharm's closest direct comparable in scale and business model.

Regional players

• Klosterfrau München GmbH: Klosterfrau is a German OTC and herbal medicine manufacturer with established pharmacy distribution. It overlaps with Dermapharm's German OTC and Arkopharma herbal medicine portfolio, particularly in branded consumer health products sold through German pharmacy channels.

Broad incumbents

• Merck KGaA: Merck KGaA is a German multinational science and technology company with a healthcare division covering specialty pharmaceuticals and consumer health. As a major German pharma incumbent with branded specialty products and pharmacy distribution, it provides a broader market benchmark for Dermapharm's domestic positioning.
• Sandoz Group AG: Sandoz is a recently independent global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, spun out from Novartis. Its European generics footprint and growing specialty focus make it a relevant comparable for Dermapharm's branded generics strategy.
• Sanofi S.A. Sanofi is a French multinational pharmaceutical company with consumer healthcare operations including branded OTC products. Its European pharmacy channel presence and consumer health division provide a broader benchmark against Dermapharm's branded specialty and OTC portfolio.
• Bayer AG: Bayer is a German multinational pharmaceutical and consumer health company with substantial OTC and consumer care operations. Its Consumer Health division competes with Dermapharm's OTC and dermatology portfolio through pharmacy retail channels across Europe.
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Teva is a global generic and specialty pharmaceutical company with broad OTC and dermatology offerings. As the world's largest generic drug manufacturer, Teva represents a broader incumbent peer against Dermapharm's branded generics and specialty pharma business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dermapharm-holding-se

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A5 records

Investments2 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Dermapharm