BASF Pharma
BASF Pharma Solutions, a division of BASF SE, is the world's leading manufacturer of pharmaceutical excipients and APIs (including ibuprofen and omega-3 fatty acids), serving global originator, generic, and biopharmaceutical drug manufacturers across five formulation platforms.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1865
- HeadquartersLudwigshafen, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What BASF Pharma does
BASF Pharma Solutions is the pharmaceutical operating division of BASF SE, headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and produces innovative excipients and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for the global pharmaceutical industry. The company is described as the world's leading manufacturer of APIs such as ibuprofen and omega-3 fatty acids, and offers the world's largest portfolio of chemical raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry — over 700 products including building blocks, chiral auxiliaries, protective groups, reagents, solvents, and catalysts. Its offering is organized across five formulation platforms: Orals, Topicals, Parenterals, Solubilization, and Biopharma Ingredients. Notable proprietary products include Kolliphor poloxamers (including Kolliphor P 188 Bio for biopharma), Kollidon (Povidone, since 1928), Kollicoat film coatings, Soluplus for solid dispersions, Kollitab DC 87 L co-processed excipient, and Ibuprofen DC 85. The Bishop, Texas facility produces ibuprofen via a unique closed-system process requiring four steps versus six or seven at competitors.
The business model is anchored on direct enterprise sales via dedicated account managers, complemented by digital platforms (myBASFWorld for product information, ordering, and shipment tracking; ZoomLab for formulation support) and global manufacturing and distribution across the US, Europe, and Asia. Pricing is managed through account managers rather than publicly disclosed, and was raised by up to 20% on excipients and select APIs in March 2026 due to energy and raw material cost inflation. A new GMP Solution Center in Wyandotte, Michigan opened in June 2025 to support biopharma and small-molecule customers. The company cites a 52% market share among originator pharmaceutical companies and serves pharmaceutical manufacturers, API manufacturers, biopharmaceutical companies, and generic drug manufacturers as primary segments. The division is supported by education and thought leadership channels including the BASF Pharma Learning Center, the "10 Billion Reasons" podcast, webinars, and LinkedIn presence.
BASF Pharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BASF Pharma
- Legal name
- BASF SE
- Website
- https://pharma.basf.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1865
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- BASF Pharma Solutions, a division of BASF SE, is the world's leading manufacturer of pharmaceutical excipients and APIs (including ibuprofen and omega-3 fatty acids), serving global originator, generic, and biopharmaceutical drug manufacturers across five formulation platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BASF Pharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pharmaceutical Excipients & APIs
- NAICS
- Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Small-Molecule CMC Documentation & Regulatory Support (DMF/CMC) (HLAGAHAM)
Keywords
Where BASF Pharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ludwigshafen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
BASF Pharma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical Excipients and APIs: BASF Pharma Solutions generates revenue through the sale of pharmaceutical excipients, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) including ibuprofen and omega-3 fatty acids, and chemical raw materials including building blocks, reagents, protective groups, solvents, and catalysts for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Digital Services and Platform Access: Revenue is supported by digital platform services including myBASFWorld for product information, ordering, and technical support, as well as consultation and technical service support for formulation development.
- Contract Manufacturing and Custom Solutions: BASF provides custom pharmaceutical development and manufacturing services with regulatory, quality, and technical service support for customers globally.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Product sales through account management |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
BASF Pharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BASF Pharma Solutions produces and supplies innovative pharmaceutical excipients and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) including ibuprofen and omega-3 fatty acids for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide. The division offers formulation expertise across five drug delivery platforms (Orals, Topicals, Parenterals, Solubilization, and Biopharma Ingredients) and supports customers with digital services including the myBASFWorld customer portal and ZoomLab virtual formulation tools.
Product overview
BASF Pharma Solutions is a comprehensive pharmaceutical portfolio comprising a wide range of excipients, APIs, and digital platforms. The core offerings include: Kolliphor® surfactants (poloxamers, HS 15, ELP) for solubilization and biologic formulations; Kollicoat® film coatings; Kollidon® (Povidone) polymers; Soluplus® for solubility enhancement; and Kollitab™ DC 87 L for tableting. BASF produces APIs including ibuprofen (with DC 85 direct compression grade) and omega-3 fatty acids. Digital services include myBASFWorld customer portal and ZoomLab® formulation tools. The portfolio serves multiple drug delivery platforms: Orals, Topicals, Parenterals, Solubilization, and Biopharma Ingredients, enabling customers to develop efficient, cost-effective, and reliable formulations across all major dosage forms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- myBASFWorld: Digital customer portal offering centralized product details, documentation access, ordering, and shipment tracking
- ZoomLab
- Kollidon
- Kollicoat
- Kolliphor
- Kollitab
- Soluplus
- SEDDS
- SNEDDS
- Kolliphor P 188 Bio
- Ibuprofen DC 85
- Kollipro
Products and services
- Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) World-leading portfolio of APIs manufactured at FDA-audited, cGMP-certified facilities, including ibuprofen and omega-3 fatty acids supplied to pharmaceutical manufacturers globally.
- Ibuprofen API (including Ibuprofen DC 85) Ibuprofen API produced at the Bishop, Texas facility with four powder grades plus a direct-compressible grade (Ibuprofen DC 85) and fast-acting grades for tableting applications.
- Kolliphor® P 188 Bio Flagship poloxamer-based surfactant used as a processing aid in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, positioned as the #1 alternative to polysorbate 20 and 80 in biologic drug formulations.
- Kolliphor® HS 15 Non-ionic solubilizer surfactant with a documented history of safe and effective use in approved and marketed parenteral drugs and biologic formulations.
- Kolliphor® ELP Surfactant for parenteral and solubilization applications with an established safety profile in marketed drugs.
- Soluplus® Novel solubilization polymer for solid dispersions that increases dissolution and inhibits recrystallization of poorly soluble drug candidates.
- Kollicoat® Film Coating Polymers Film coating product line for oral dosage forms providing immediate release, controlled release, moisture protection, and taste masking solutions.
- Kollidon® (Povidone / PVP) PVP-based polymers originated by BASF in 1928, used as binders, solubilizers and film formers in pharmaceutical formulations.
- Kollitab™ DC 87 L All-in-one co-processed excipient combining filler, binder, disintegrant and lubricant for direct compression tableting and continuous manufacturing processes.
- Kollisolv® PEG Polyethylene glycol products for softgel fills, solubilization, and pharmaceutical formulations, including low-aldehyde variants for enhanced stability.
- myBASFWorld Digital Platform Centralized customer portal providing product detail pages with technical and regulatory information, always up-to-date documentation, self-service capabilities, transparent ordering and real-time shipment tracking for pharmaceutical customers.
- ZoomLab® Virtual laboratory service providing formulation development support for pharmaceutical customers.
- Virtual Audit Service State-of-the-art virtual audit technology enabling authorized customers to conduct immersive 360-degree audits of the Bishop ibuprofen production facility remotely.
- Chemical Intermediates (Building Blocks, Chiral Auxiliaries, Protective Groups, Reagents, Solvents) BASF Intermediates portfolio of over 700 chemical raw materials for synthesis in the pharmaceutical industry, marketed under the world's largest portfolio of chemical intermediates products.
Quantifiable outcome
- Manufacturing process completed in only 4 steps versus 6-7 steps at competitors
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use BASF Pharma
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
BASF Pharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature10 records
BASF Pharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- ACT Solutions CorpsupportingBASF partnered with Mark Chandler of ACT Solutions Corp for a webinar on topical formulation development using self-emulsifying systems, leveraging ACT Solutions' expertise in stabilization techniques and co-processed excipients for pharmaceutical applications.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BASF Pharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Avantor: Global supplier of pharma excipients, APIs, and bioprocessing ingredients to drug manufacturers and biopharma companies. Direct competitor in excipients, APIs, and biopharma raw materials with comparable distribution scale.
- Colorcon: Specialty excipient supplier focused on film coatings, controlled-release polymers, and tableting excipients. Direct competitor to BASF's Kollicoat, Kollidon, and Kollitab product lines for oral solid dose formulations.
- Evonik Industries: German specialty chemicals company with a dedicated Health Care business line producing pharmaceutical excipients, APIs, and drug delivery technologies. Most directly comparable peer given overlap in pharma polymers, APIs, and CDMO services for oral and parenteral formulations.
- Ashland: Specialty chemical company producing pharmaceutical excipients, controlled-release polymers, and tablet coatings. Direct competitor in oral solid dose excipients and solubilization polymers.
- SEPPIC (Air Liquide): Air Liquide subsidiary manufacturing specialty excipients and surfactants for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and vaccine applications. Competes directly with BASF's Kolliphor surfactant portfolio in parenterals and biopharma.
- International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) Pharma Solutions: Pharmaceutical Solutions division of IFF (formerly DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences) producing pharma excipients, controlled-release polymers, and bioavailability enhancers. Direct competitor in solubilization and oral excipients.
- JRS Pharma (J. Rettenmaier & Söhne): Specialty excipient manufacturer focused on cellulose-based binders, disintegrants, and fillers for oral solid dose formulations. Direct competitor in tableting excipients alongside BASF's Kollidon and Kollitab lines.
- Roquette: French global leader in starch-based pharmaceutical excipients and APIs, including cyclodextrates, polyols, and biopharma excipients. Competes directly with BASF Pharma Solutions in orals, biopharma, and solubilization platforms.
Broad incumbents
- Dow Chemical: Diversified chemical manufacturer with pharmaceutical and personal care ingredients including cellulosics, silicones, and excipients. Broader portfolio than BASF Pharma but overlaps in pharma-grade polymers and intermediates.
- Merck KGaA (Life Science / MilliporeSigma): Life Science division of Merck KGaA offers pharmaceutical raw materials, excipients, and bioprocessing ingredients alongside a much broader lab products portfolio. Comparable in excipients and bioprocessing segments but operates across a far wider scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
BASF Pharma social profiles
Digital presenceBASF Pharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BASF Pharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
BASF Pharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BASF Pharma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BASF Pharma
What does BASF Pharma do?
BASF Pharma Solutions produces and supplies innovative pharmaceutical excipients and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) including ibuprofen and omega-3 fatty acids for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide. The division offers formulation expertise across five drug delivery platforms (Orals, Topicals, Parenterals, Solubilization, and Biopharma Ingredients) and supports customers with digital services including the myBASFWorld customer portal and ZoomLab virtual formulation tools.
Is BASF Pharma a public or private company?
BASF Pharma is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was BASF Pharma founded?
BASF Pharma was founded in 1865. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is BASF Pharma based?
BASF Pharma is headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does BASF Pharma make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Pharmaceutical Excipients and APIs are the primary driver. The others are digital Services and Platform Access and contract Manufacturing and Custom Solutions.
Who are BASF Pharma's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Avantor, Colorcon, Evonik Industries, Ashland, SEPPIC (Air Liquide), International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) Pharma Solutions, JRS Pharma (J. Rettenmaier & Söhne) and Roquette. Broad incumbents are Dow Chemical and Merck KGaA (Life Science / MilliporeSigma).
Does BASF Pharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for BASF Pharma.
What industry is BASF Pharma in?
BASF Pharma's product category is Pharmaceutical Excipients & APIs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAHAM, Small-Molecule CMC Documentation & Regulatory Support (DMF/CMC). Its NAICS code is 325411 and its SIC code is 2833.