What Dr. Willmar Schwabe does

Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG is a German pharmaceutical manufacturer specializing in evidence-based phytopharmaceuticals (plant-based medicines), headquartered in Karlsruhe and founded in Leipzig in 1866 by apothecary Dr. Willmar Schwabe. The company develops, produces, and distributes standardized herbal medicines through a portfolio of brands including Tebonin (Ginkgo biloba EGb 761 for cognitive function, dizziness, tinnitus), Umckaloabo (Pelargonium sidoides EPs 7630 for respiratory infections), Lasea (Silexan lavender oil for anxiety and sleep disorders), Crataegutt (hawthorn for cardiovascular health), Prostagutt (urological), Neuroplant, Vitango, Hametum, and others, addressing conditions ranging from cognitive decline and anxiety to bronchitis and wound healing.

The company's core technology centers on proprietary, standardized botanical extracts developed over more than 160 years, with multi-target mechanisms of action validated through controlled clinical trials under the same regulatory standards applied to synthetic pharmaceuticals. It operates a fully vertically integrated production model spanning its own ecologically certified cultivation operations (Terra Medica), specialized extraction facilities, and in-house active ingredient manufacturing (via subsidiary Schwabe Extracta), supported by more than 100 R&D staff. Dr. Willmar Schwabe has accumulated over 800 drug approvals worldwide for its phytopharmaceutical products.

Commercially, the company generates revenue through one-time sales of OTC and prescription herbal medicines distributed primarily via pharmacies in Germany and internationally through Schwabe Group subsidiaries, with selected products eligible for voluntary reimbursement by German statutory health insurers (AOK, DAK, TK). The business is 100% family-owned in its fifth generation under CEO Olaf Schwabe, self-financed, and structured within the broader Schwabe Group alongside subsidiaries Deutsche Homöopathie-Union (DHU, homeopathic medicines) and OTX Force GmbH (distribution). Group revenue is approximately €950 million, with 4,000+ employees worldwide (1,400 in Germany).

Name

Dr. Willmar Schwabe

Legal name

Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://www.schwabe.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1866

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Dr. Willmar Schwabe is a fifth-generation, family-owned German pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and distributes evidence-based phytopharmaceutical (plant-based) medicines through brands like Tebonin, Umckaloabo, and Lasea, selling primarily via pharmacies to consumers and healthcare professionals across Germany and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Phytopharmaceuticals / Herbal Medicines

NAICS

Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (32541)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Botanical & Herbal Extracts (Adaptogens, Polyphenols, Essential Oils, Standardized Extracts) (AFAJAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Herbal & Botanical Supplements (CRADAGAD), Healthy Aging & Cognitive Support Supplements (CRADAGAM), Sleep, Stress & Mood Support (HLAIADAG)

Keywords

• Phytopharmaceutical medicines
• Herbal pharmaceutical products
• Standardized plant extracts
• OTC and prescription remedies
• Evidence-based phytotherapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlsruhe

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Phytopharmaceutical Product Sales: Sale of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription herbal medicines through pharmacies in Germany and internationally. Products include Tebonin, Umckaloabo, Lasea, Crataegutt, Prostagutt, and others targeting conditions including cognitive decline, respiratory infections, anxiety, cardiovascular health, and urological conditions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dr. Willmar Schwabe develops, manufactures, and distributes standardized phytopharmaceutical (plant-based) medicines for conditions including cognitive decline, dizziness, tinnitus, respiratory infections, anxiety, sleep disorders, cardiovascular health, urological complaints, skin conditions, and digestion. Products are built on proprietary special extracts (EGb 761 Ginkgo biloba, Silexan lavender oil, EPs 7630 Pelargonium sidoides) and sold primarily through German pharmacies as OTC and prescription medicines, with over 800 drug approvals worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tebonin: Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761 product line for cognitive function, dizziness, and tinnitus
• Crataegutt
• Umckaloabo
• Lasea
• Prostagutt
• Neuroplant
• Pinimenthol
• Carmenthin
• Refluthin
• Hametum
• Venoplant
• Vitango
• Euvegal
• Doloplant
• Dermaplant
• Terra Medica

Products and services

• Tebonin® Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761 product line for cognitive function, dizziness, tinnitus, and age-related memory loss; sold through German pharmacies as OTC and prescription medicine.
• Umckaloabo® Pelargonium sidoides extract (EPs 7630) product line for acute bronchitis and respiratory infections; sold through pharmacies.
• Lasea® Silexan medicinal lavender oil product line for inner restlessness, anxiety-related symptoms, and resulting sleep disorders; sold through pharmacies.
• Crataegutt® Hawthorn extract product line for heart and circulation support; sold through pharmacies.
• Prostagutt® Saw palmetto and nettle root combination for urinary symptoms related to benign prostatic enlargement; sold through pharmacies.
• Hametum® Hämorrhoiden Hamamelis (witch hazel) product line for hemorrhoid treatment; sold through pharmacies. Hametum has been marketed since the 1920s.
• Hametum® Haut (Wund- und Heilsalbe; Medizinische Hautpflege) Hamamelis-based wound healing ointment and medicinal skincare line for skin conditions and wound healing; sold through pharmacies.
• Refluthin® Fig cactus extract combined with mineral acid buffers for quick heartburn relief; sold through pharmacies.
• Neuroplant® St. John's wort product line for depressive moods; sold through pharmacies.
• Pinimenthol® Eucalyptus and pine needle oil product line for colds and respiratory relief; sold through pharmacies.
• Carmenthin® Peppermint oil and caraway oil combination for digestive disorders and flatulence; sold through pharmacies.
• Euvegal® Valerian and hop product line for sleep disorders; sold through pharmacies.
• Doloplant® Devil's claw product line for muscle and joint pain; sold through pharmacies.
• Dermaplant® Phytopharmaceutical product for skin conditions including atopic dermatitis; sold through pharmacies.
• Venoplant® Horse chestnut seed extract for venous insufficiency; sold through pharmacies.
• Vitango® Rhodiola rosea product line for stress and fatigue; sold through pharmacies.
• Tebonin® Schwindel-App Mobile patient-support application offering physiotherapy exercise guidance for dizziness, including Epley maneuver for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and vestibular rehabilitation exercises; available on iOS and Android.

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Deutsche Homöopathie-Union (DHU)coreOthersThe Deutsche Homöopathie-Union is one of the leading manufacturers of homeopathic medicines. DHU operates as a separate business unit within the Schwabe Group, handling development, manufacturing, and distribution of homeopathic products while Dr. Willmar Schwabe focuses on phytopharmaceuticals.
• Schwabe ExtractacoreOthersSchwabe Extracta is a highly specialized active ingredient manufacturer that produces the active ingredients for the entire Schwabe Group.
• OTX Force GmbHminorOthersOTX Force GmbH is an independent sales company of Dr. Willmar Schwabe operating as a separate distribution entity.
• Pharma DeutschlandminorOthersDr. Willmar Schwabe is a member of Pharma Deutschland, the leading industry association for pharmaceutical companies in Germany.
• Pro Grünes RezeptminorOthersDr. Willmar Schwabe supports the 'Pro Grünes Rezept' initiative, which promotes awareness of green prescriptions for non-prescription herbal medicines and their potential reimbursement by health insurers.
• Smallholder Farms (Global)minorOthersDr. Willmar Schwabe works directly with small agricultural businesses globally (e.g., valerian in Kyrgyzstan, lavender in Southern Europe) that prioritize environmentally friendly cultivation, ensuring sustainable raw material sourcing.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bionorica SE: Bionorica is one of the world's leading manufacturers of phytopharmaceuticals, producing evidence-based herbal medicines for respiratory, gynecological, and urological conditions. It is the most direct comparable to Schwabe given the overlapping focus on standardized plant-based drug products sold through pharmacy channels.
• Heel GmbH: Heel is a German pharmaceutical company specializing in natural, plant-based and homeopathic medicines, also based in Baden-Württemberg. The combination of phytopharmaceutical and homeopathic product focus is closely aligned with Schwabe's portfolio strategy (note DHU is Schwabe's homeopathy subsidiary).
• Salus-Haus GmbH & Co. KG: Salus-Haus is a German manufacturer of herbal medicinal products and natural health products, also family-owned. Overlap with Schwabe is strong in tonics, plant-based juices, and pharmacy-distributed herbal remedies.
• Klosterfrau Melisana GmbH: Klosterfrau is a traditional German manufacturer of plant-based medicines (e.g., Klosterfrau Melissengeist) and OTC health products. Comparable as a pharmacy-channel herbal medicine specialist with a similar heritage positioning to Schwabe.
• Steigerwald Arzneimittelwerk GmbH: Steigerwald is a German manufacturer of phytopharmaceuticals, particularly known for Iberogast. It is part of Bayer's consumer health division but operates as a focused herbal medicine manufacturer comparable to Schwabe's specialty positioning.

Others

• Schwabe Group subsidiary: Deutsche Homöopathie-Union (DHU): DHU is a Schwabe Group subsidiary handling homeopathic medicines. While a related entity rather than a competitor, it represents the homeopathic medicine category that overlaps thematically with phytopharmaceuticals and is part of the same corporate family for context.

Broad incumbents

• Bayer Consumer Health (Iberogast, Aspirin Natural): Bayer's Consumer Health division offers herbal OTC products (including Steigerwald's Iberogast) alongside mainstream consumer health brands. Bayer is a much larger, publicly-listed company with broader portfolio reach, but its phytopharmaceutical segment competes directly with Schwabe.
• Sanofi Consumer Healthcare: Sanofi operates a large consumer healthcare division with herbal and natural product lines in European markets. Comparable as a broad incumbent with plant-based OTC offerings, though the focus is wider than phytopharmaceuticals alone.

Emerging players

• FLORA (Ceres Heilmittel AG): Ceres is a Swiss specialist in plant-based tinctures and phytotherapeutic medicines, focused on a smaller niche of high-quality plant-based remedies. Comparable as an emerging specialist in the same herbal medicine category as Schwabe, but with a smaller, more focused portfolio.

Regional players

• Phytomed AG: Zeller AG (Phytomed) is a Swiss manufacturer of standardized phytopharmaceuticals, particularly for gynecological indications. Comparable in technology and regulatory approach (standardized extracts, drug approvals) but primarily serves the Swiss market, making it a regional peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Dr-Willmar-Schwabe-Business-Services-GmbH-Co-186783968504018
• Instagraminstagram.com/schwabe
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@schwabegroup
• Pinterestpinterest.com/schwabe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dr.-willmar-schwabe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Dr. Willmar Schwabe