Serumwerk Bernburg AG

What Serumwerk Bernburg AG does

Serumwerk Bernburg AG is a privately held German pharmaceutical manufacturer founded in 1954 in Bernburg, Saxony-Anhalt, originally established as the GDR state-owned VEB Serumwerk Bernburg and privatized through a management buy-out led by Dr. Helge Fänger in 1992. The company develops and produces a diversified portfolio spanning branded OTC pharmaceuticals (Pulmotin, Pyolysin, Parodontal), hospital solutions (AMNION Flush Solution, EmboLog S medical device for TACE tumor therapy, colon cleansing products), dialysis consumables (VitaPES dialyzers with patented P.E.T. and PUREMA membrane technology, DiaCart bicarbonate cartridges, blood tubing systems, PropyBAG saline bags), ophthalmic irrigation solutions, veterinary medicines for farm animals, small animals, horses, and bees, active pharmaceutical ingredients (HES, gleptoferron, dextrans, polygeline), contract manufacturing services, and density gradient media for cell biology research (Lymphoprep, OptiPrep, Polymorphprep, Nycodenz). The technology foundation rests on proprietary chemistry built over 70 years — particularly a novel hydroxyethyl starch synthesis method developed in the mid-1990s using local potato starch instead of waxy maize starch, 40+ years of continuous gleptoferron iron-complex research, and patented membrane technology for hemodialysis — supported by Europe's most modern polyglucan synthesis plant and FDA approval for key APIs since 2015.

The company operates through three core subsidiaries: Serumwerk Bernburg Vertriebs GmbH (wholly-owned sales subsidiary established 1999 for dialysis and ophthalmic products), MTP Medical Technologies GmbH (wholly-owned Pirna facility providing vertical integration into dialyzer manufacturing), and serYmun Yeast GmbH (jointly controlled, established 2017 in Halle for veterinary vaccine R&D). Manufacturing is concentrated in Germany across Bernburg, Pirna, with operations support historically integrated from Leipzig and Dresden.

Revenue is generated through transactional one-time sales of branded and generic pharmaceutical products plus custom contract manufacturing, distributed via a combination of direct sales (Vertriebs GmbH, Tiergesundheit veterinary department), pharmaceutical wholesalers, and a partner network covering more than 60 countries. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company reports turnover tripled over a 20-year horizon while the export share rose from 4% to 30% across approximately 90 countries, and it maintains a broad regulatory stack including GMP, GDP, ISO 9001, ISO 13485, MDR, and FDA approvals covering human and veterinary medicinal products as well as APIs.

Name

Serumwerk Bernburg AG

Legal name

Serumwerk Bernburg AG

Website

https://serumwerk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Serumwerk Bernburg AG is a privately held German pharmaceutical manufacturer founded in 1954 producing OTC medicines, hospital solutions, dialysis devices, veterinary pharmaceuticals, APIs, and diagnostic density gradient media for hospitals, dialysis centers, pharmacies, veterinary practitioners, and research customers across approximately 90 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (424210), Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423450), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (32541)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Pharmacy, Vaccine & Biologics Services (AFAEANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vaccine Manufacturing & Contract Services (Veterinary Vaccine CDMO) (HLAMAKAI), Veterinary Medical/Surgical Supply Wholesalers (HLAMAIAB)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Active pharmaceutical ingredients
• Dialysis medical devices
• Veterinary medicines
• Density gradient media

Headquarters

HQ city

Bernburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Human pharmaceutical products: Sale of branded OTC products including Pulmotin Erkältungssalbe, Pyolysin Wund- und Heilsalbe, and Parodontal Mundsalbe for pharmacies and consumers.
2. Medical devices: Sale of dialysis products including bicarbonate cartridges, blood tubing systems, dialyzers, and isotonic sodium chloride solutions to hospitals and dialysis centers.
3. Ophthalmology products: Sale of Eye-Lotion Balanced salt solution irrigation solutions for ophthalmological procedures.
4. Hospital products: Sale of infusion solutions, AMNION Flush Solution, EmboLog S medical device for TACE treatment, and colon cleansing products.
5. Veterinary medicines: Sale of veterinary pharmaceuticals for farm animals, small animals, horses, and bees including antibiotics, analgesics, deworming treatments, vitamins, and iron preparations.
6. Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs): Production and sale of polymeric active ingredients including hydroxyethyl starch, gleptoferron, dextrans, and polygelatine for use in volume replacement therapy.
7. Contract manufacturing: Custom manufacturing services for veterinary and human medicinal products including solid forms, liquids, injection solutions, infusion solutions, and semi-solid formulations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Serumwerk Bernburg AG is a mid-sized German pharmaceutical manufacturer that develops, produces, and distributes human and veterinary medicines, medical devices (including dialyzers and ophthalmic irrigation solutions), active pharmaceutical ingredients (hydroxyethyl starch, gleptoferron, polygeline, dextrans), and density gradient diagnostic media. Its portfolio is sold to pharmacies, hospitals, dialysis centers, ophthalmologists, veterinarians, livestock farmers, and research laboratories in more than 60 countries, complemented by contract manufacturing services for veterinary and human medicinal products.

Product overview

Serumwerk Bernburg AG is a medium-sized pharmaceutical company with over 60 years of tradition in developing and producing medicinal products, medical devices, and active pharmaceutical ingredients. The company's product portfolio is organized into several distinct categories: (1) Pharmacy/OTC products including Pulmotin® cold ointment, Pyolysin® wound ointment, and Parodontal® mouth ointment for consumer health; (2) Hospital products including AMNION Flush Solution, EmboLog® S medical device for TACE treatment, colon cleansing products (1xklysma and Darmspülpulver); (3) Dialysis products including DiaCart/DiaBox bicarbonate cartridges, blood tubing systems, VitaPES® dialyzers with PUREMA membrane, and PropyBAG saline bags; (4) Ophthalmology products including Eye-Lotion Balanced Salt Solution irrigation solutions; (5) Veterinary medicines for farm animals, small animals, horses, and bees including iron preparations (Ursoferran®), antibiotics, analgesics, and bee health products (APILIFE VAR); (6) APIs and contract manufacturing including Hydroxyethyl starch (HES), Gleptoferron iron dextran complex, polymeric active ingredients, and polygeline; (7) Diagnostic products including Density Gradient Media (Lymphoprep™, OptiPrep™, Polymorphprep™, Nycodenz®, Polysucrose 400) for cell separation and research applications. The company operates from Bernburg, Germany, with products exported to more than 60 countries worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pulmotin: Brand for cold and flu medicines including Pulmotin Erkältungssalbe (ointment)
• Pyolysin
• Parodontal
• VitaPES
• DiaCart
• EmboLog
• PropyBAG

Products and services

• Pulmotin® Erkältungssalbe (Pulmotin® Ointment for Colds) Over-the-counter respiratory tract ointment for treating cold symptoms including coughs and nasal congestion, applied externally to improve well-being during chest colds. Sold in pharmacies for consumer self-medication.
• Pyolysin® Wund- und Heilsalbe (Pyolysin® Wound Ointment) Wound healing ointment combining natural active ingredients with time-tested medicinal substances for optimal wound healing, used for superficial wounds and as adjuvant treatment for lower leg ulcers. Sold in pharmacies for consumer self-medication.
• Parodontal® Mundsalbe (Parodontal® Mouth Ointment) Oral ointment for treating inflammation of the oral mucosa and gums, suitable for teething toddlers, irritation from dental appliances, and bacterial or viral inflammation. Sold in pharmacies for consumer self-medication.
• Eye-Lotion Balanced Salt Solution Irrigation solution for ophthalmological operations providing safe and economical treatment, available in glass bottles, PP bottles, and bags with latex-free and plasticizer-free components. Sold to ophthalmologists and eye surgeons.
• AMNION Flush Solution Medical device supplied in 500ml bottles for treating premature rupture of membranes and prolonging pregnancies. Sold to hospitals and obstetric units.
• EmboLog® S
• 1xklysma saline enema
• Darmspülpulver Bernburg (Bernburg Colon Cleanse Powder)
• DiaCart and DiaBox Bicarbonate Cartridges
• Blood Tubing Systems
• VitaPES® Dialyzers
• PropyBAG Saline Bags
• Ursoferran® (Iron Dextran) Iron dextran preparation for prevention of anaemia in suckling piglets, available in various concentrations including 100 mg/ml injection and 150-200 mg/ml oral formulations. Sold to veterinarians and livestock farmers.
• Veterinary Farm Animal Products
• Veterinary Small Animal Products
• Veterinary Horse Products
• Bee Health Products (APILIFE VAR, Organic Acids)
• Hydroxyethyl Starch (HES) Hydroxyethyl starch API products with variable molecular parameters including HES 130/0.42, HES 200/0.5, and HES 450/0.7 for volume replacement therapy. Produced using proprietary local potato starch method. Sold to pharmaceutical companies.
• Gleptoferron (Iron Dextran-Heptonic Acid Complex) Special iron complex API and finished medicinal product for injection and oral administration for preventing anaemia in suckling piglets. FDA-approved. Sold to pharmaceutical companies and veterinarians.
• Polymeric Active Ingredients (DEAE-Dextran, Polysucrose)
• Polygeline
• Contract Manufacturing Services
• Lymphoprep™
• Lymphoprep Tube
• OptiPrep™
• Polymorphprep™
• Nycodenz®
• Polysucrose 400

Quantifiable outcome

• Company turnover trebled within 20 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• serYmun Yeast GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 2017 in Halle (Saale) in cooperation with experienced partners for developing vaccines for livestock using a novel procedure. Part of strategic shift toward veterinary vaccines and prophylaxis focus.
• International sales partnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partners in more than 60 countries worldwide that have trusted products for humans and animals Made in Germany for decades. Partners market and distribute pharmaceutical products and medical devices internationally.
• MTP Medical Technologies GmbHcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSubsidiary company in Pirna for medical technology and medical devices production, including dialyzers. Secures independence from suppliers and guarantees highest product quality.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• B. Braun: German family-owned medical and pharmaceutical company producing infusion solutions, dialysis consumables (Avitum), and sterile hospital products — directly comparable product lines to Serumwerk's hospital and dialysis business, with broader global scale.
• Fresenius Medical Care: Global leader in dialysis products and services, including dialyzers, blood tubing systems, and bicarbonate concentrates — directly comparable to Serumwerk's VitaPES, DiaCart, and blood tubing portfolio, though at materially larger scale.
• Zoetis: Global leader in animal health pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and diagnostics — comparable to Serumwerk's veterinary medicines and emerging vaccine capabilities, though at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health: Major global animal health division of Boehringer Ingelheim offering veterinary vaccines, parasiticides, and pharmaceuticals — comparable product categories (vet pharma, vaccines) with much larger commercial scale.

Direct peers

• STADA Arzneimittel AG: German-based pharmaceutical company specializing in generics, branded OTC, and specialty pharma across multiple European and international markets — comparable in product breadth (OTC, hospital generics), private German Mittelstand profile, and export-driven distribution model.
• Dermapharm Holding SE: German specialty pharmaceutical company with OTC/dermatology brands, hospital products, and selected veterinary lines — comparable as a private German Mittelstand pharma with branded OTC and hospital focus.
• IDT Biologika GmbH: German manufacturer of veterinary vaccines and biologics — directly comparable to Serumwerk's serYmun yeast-based vaccine JV and existing veterinary biologics portfolio, with strong global distribution.

Regional players

• Alcura (formerly Ascensia Diabetes Care distribution): European specialty pharmaceutical distribution and patient services company — comparable as a regional wholesaler/distributor of pharmaceutical products to hospitals and specialty channels.

Emerging players

• Haemonetics: U.S. company focused on blood and plasma component collection, processing, and diagnostics — adjacent peer for Serumwerk's dextran-based plasma volume replacement and blood-meal/density-gradient media products.

Others

• Axis-Shield / Abbott Diagnostics (density gradient media): Abbott Diagnostics (originally Axis-Shield, the Norwegian-origin maker of Nycodenz and Lymphoprep) is a direct competitor in the cell-separation density gradient media market served by Serumwerk's diagnostic product line.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance15 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Serumwerk Bernburg AG