Selectchemie

What Selectchemie does

Selectchemie AG is a privately held Swiss pharmaceutical trading, distribution, and generic dossier company founded on 6 March 1969 in Zurich. Headquartered at Etzelstrasse 42, Zurich, with approximately 130 employees across 17 countries (80 in Zurich), it serves pharmaceutical manufacturers and generic drug developers worldwide as a full-service provider rather than a commodity trader.

The company's offering is organised around three product lines. (1) Pharma Ingredients: high-quality Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), intermediates, and excipients covering all therapeutic areas and dosage forms (tablets, capsules, syrups, granules, sprays, injections, infusions, inhalers, ointments, gels, suppositories), sourced through wholly-owned offices in Switzerland, China (since 1996) and India (since 2004) and distributed through three warehouses in Switzerland and Germany. (2) Generics: in-house developed finished dosage forms (FDF) and out-licensed regulatory dossiers, with launched products Caspofungin (2017), Anidulafungin (2019), Micafungin (2020), and Ticagrelor (June 2025), plus pipeline products Rivaroxaban, Tafamidis, and Macitentan. (3) Services: CEP dossier application and revision, Health/Safety/Environment consulting, supply chain services, and strategic sourcing. Distinctive technical components include an in-house application laboratory (opened 2014) and the CCURE API platform, a strategic-sourcing service for Venetoclax API run in partnership with Lebsa.

Revenue is generated through three streams: transaction-fee-based distribution of APIs and excipients, licensing/royalty income from out-licensed generic dossiers, and professional services (regulatory, HSE, supply chain). The go-to-market is enterprise field sales supported by a wholly-owned subsidiary and representative office network in Switzerland, Germany, France, Bulgaria, Poland, Serbia, Turkey, China, India, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Egypt, Spain, and Ukraine, combined with event-driven presence at CPHI and FCE Pharma. B2B pricing is quote-based and tailored to order volume and contract terms; pricing is not publicly disclosed. In December 2025 Selectchemie announced the sale of its Nutrition business unit (Selectnutrition) to TER Chemicals, with closing expected 1 April 2026, to sharpen focus on core pharmaceutical activities.

Name

Selectchemie

Legal name

Selectchemie AG

Website

https://selectchemie.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Selectchemie AG is a privately held Swiss pharmaceutical company founded in 1969 that distributes APIs, excipients, and generic finished dosage forms to pharmaceutical manufacturers and generic drug developers worldwide across 17 countries, with a complementary regulatory dossier out-licensing business.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Ingredients Distribution

NAICS

Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Generic APIs & Intermediates (Active Ingredients) (HLAIABAG)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical ingredients distribution
• Active pharmaceutical ingredients
• Generic drug development
• Pharmaceutical excipients supply
• Regulatory dossier services

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Ingredients Distribution: Distribution of high-quality Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and excipients to pharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide. Revenue generated through product sales with comprehensive technical, scientific, regulatory and commercial support services included.
2. Generic Finished Dosage Forms (FDF): Development and production of generic products for human medicine with out-licensing of regulatory dossiers to selected partners. Products include Caspofungin (2017), Anidulafungin (2019), Micafungin (2020), and pipeline products including Rivaroxaban, Ticagrelor, Tafamidis, and others.
3. Regulatory and Technical Services: CEP dossier application and revision services, Health Safety Environment (HSE) consulting, supply chain services, and strategic sourcing support provided as value-added services to pharmaceutical industry clients.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Selectchemie is a Swiss pharmaceutical distribution and generic drug development company that supplies high-quality Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and excipients to pharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide. The company also develops and out-licenses generic finished dosage forms (including antifungals, anticoagulants, and specialty medications) and provides regulatory, supply chain, HSE, and strategic sourcing services along the pharmaceutical value chain.

Product overview

Selectchemie is a Swiss full-service pharmaceutical trading and distribution company founded in 1969, offering three core product lines: (1) Pharma Ingredients including high-quality APIs and excipients covering all therapeutic areas and dosage forms; (2) Generics including both finished dosage forms (FDF) and regulatory dossiers for out-licensing, with products like antifungals (Caspofungin, Anidulafungin, Micafungin), anticoagulants (Rivaroxaban, Ticagrelor), and specialty products (Tafamidis, Macitentan); and (3) comprehensive Services including CEP dossier applications, HSE compliance, supply chain management, and strategic sourcing. The company also distributes cGMP-grade Benzalkonium Chloride through a partnership with Novo Nordisk Pharmatech and operates the CCURE API platform for Venetoclax sourcing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CCURE API: End-to-end service for Venetoclax, resulting from the synergy of Lebsa and Selectchemie.
• Selectnutrition

Products and services

• Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) High-quality APIs, intermediates, and specialty chemicals covering all therapeutic areas for pharmaceutical manufacturers, with expertise in handling hormones, antibiotics, controlled substances, and hazardous materials.
• Excipients Broad portfolio of excipients for all dosage forms including tablets, capsules, syrups, granules, sprays, injections, infusions, inhalers, ointments, gels, and suppositories, covering basic, functional, reprocessed, and biological excipients.
• Caspofungin Generic Generic antifungal API (generic of Cancidas) for hospital use, available in 50mg and 70mg parenteral powder for infusion solution for systemic antifungal treatment.
• Anidulafungin Generic Generic antifungal API (generic of Ecalta) for hospital use, 100mg parenteral powder for infusion solution for systemic antifungal treatment.
• Micafungin Generic Generic antifungal API (generic of Mycamine) for hospital use, available in 50mg and 100mg parenteral powder for infusion solution for systemic antifungal treatment.
• Rivaroxaban Generic Generic anticoagulant (generic of Xarelto) in 2.5mg, 10mg, 15mg, 20mg oral film tablets for retail market, available for technology transfer with commercial launch since 2026.
• Ticagrelor Generic Generic anticoagulant (generic of Brilique) in 60mg and 90mg oral film tablets for the retail market.
• CCURE API - Venetoclax Sourcing Platform Strategic sourcing platform for Venetoclax API offering comprehensive end-to-end service through partnership with Lebsa, combining Lebsa's manufacturing capabilities with Selectchemie's distribution network and regulatory expertise.
• Benzalkonium Chloride (cGMP) cGMP-grade antimicrobial surfactant distributed in partnership with Novo Nordisk Pharmatech for use in ophthalmic, nasal, and topical formulations, with broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
• CEP Dossier Application & Revision Services Regulatory affairs support for API manufacturers including gap analysis, dossier improvement, submission, deficiency remediation, and EDQM communication.
• Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Services Expertise in SDS preparation, controlled substances, hazardous materials handling, storage, transport, disposal, and EU/CH regulatory compliance including REACH.
• Supply Chain Services Supply chain solutions including storage and distribution from three strategically located warehouses in Switzerland and Germany, with global logistics partner network.
• Strategic Sourcing Services Global sourcing network with offices in Switzerland, China, and India, providing optimal solutions for quality, price, delivery time, and supply stability.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 33% globally in EcoVadis sustainability assessment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• TER ChemicalsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Strategic partnership for sale of Selectchemie's Nutrition business unit (brand: Selectnutrition) to TER Chemicals, an international family-owned specialty chemicals and food additives distributor headquartered in Hamburg. The agreement was signed in December 2025 with expected closing April 1, 2026. TER Chemicals will take over all Nutrition employees and integrate into existing TER Schweiz AG. Both companies share values of long-term thinking, reliability, responsibility, and customer/market focus.
• Novo Nordisk Pharmatech A/ScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 May 2025Long-standing trusted partnership where Selectchemie distributes Benzalkonium Chloride from Novo Nordisk Pharmatech to key markets in Eastern Europe. Novo Nordisk Pharmatech is a worldwide leading producer of high-purity pharmaceutical ingredients, manufacturing Benzalkonium Chloride according to ICH Q7 and cGMP standards. This partnership supports manufacturers in producing safe and effective medicines with consistent quality and full traceability.
• LebsacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for CCURE API platform providing end-to-end service for Venetoclax API sourcing. The collaboration combines Lebsa's manufacturing capabilities with Selectchemie's distribution network and regulatory expertise.
• Novo Nordisk Pharmatech A/S (Manufacturing Partner)coreTechnology or IntegrationNovo Nordisk Pharmatech, part of Novo Nordisk A/S, is a globally recognized manufacturer of quaternary ammonium compounds for pharmaceutical purposes, recombinant insulin, and trypsin for biopharmaceutical purposes. Based in Køge, Denmark, they produce Benzalkonium Chloride meeting ICH Q7 and cGMP standards with consistent quality and full regulatory compliance.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DKSH Holding: Swiss-headquartered market expansion services and pharmaceutical/consumer ingredients distribution business operating across Asia and emerging markets. Directly comparable to Selectchemie as a B2B pharma ingredients and specialty chemicals distributor serving manufacturers in multiple regions.
• Biesterfeld AG: German-headquartered specialty chemicals and pharmaceutical raw materials distributor serving industrial and pharmaceutical manufacturers across Europe. Closely aligned with Selectchemie's APIs/excipients distribution model and similar regulatory certification requirements.
• Azelis Group: Global specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor with significant pharma & personal care segment. Comparable to Selectchemie as a full-service specialty ingredients distributor serving pharmaceutical manufacturers across multiple geographies.
• IMCD Group: Dutch specialty chemicals and ingredients distribution company with pharma, food, and personal care segments. Comparable distribution model, regulatory posture, and target customer base (manufacturers) to Selectchemie.
• TER Chemicals: Hamburg-headquartered international specialty chemicals and food additives distributor; Selectchemie's announced acquirer of the Selectnutrition business. Strong overlap with the divested unit and adjacent to Selectchemie's remaining excipients/specialty chemicals portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Brenntag SE: World's largest chemical distribution company with a dedicated life sciences/pharmaceuticals segment including excipients and APIs. Larger incumbent operating the same product category; competes for the same manufacturer customer base as Selectchemie.
• Univar Solutions: Global chemical and ingredients distributor with a dedicated pharmaceutical ingredients portfolio. Established North American incumbent; comparable APIs/excipients distribution activity with broader geographic and product footprint.
• Sandoz (Novartis): Global leader in generic pharmaceuticals with dedicated development and manufacturing of generic finished dosage forms including injectable antifungals and cardiovascular generics. Comparable generics categories to Selectchemie's Caspofungin/Anidulafungin/Micafungin/Rivaroxaban/Ticagrelor portfolio.

Emerging players

• Polpharma Biologics: European generic and biosimilar developer with API manufacturing capability, overlapping with Selectchemie's focus on complex generics in European and emerging markets. Comparable customer base (generic drug developers, distributors).
• Alvotech: Icelandic-headquartered biosimilar developer with global out-licensing model for regulatory dossiers and finished dosage forms. Comparable out-licensing/cross-licensing partnership structure to Selectchemie's generic dossier business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/selectchemie-ag

Compliance15 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries11 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 Selectchemie