Chiracon

What Chiracon does

Chiracon GmbH is a privately held German contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) founded in 1998 in Luckenwalde, Brandenburg. The company specialises in the custom synthesis and GMP-certified production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), chiral intermediates, and specialty pharmaceutical compounds, employing both classical chemical and enzymatic synthesis methods including proprietary plant-biocatalyst and peroxygenase-based oxyfunctionalization techniques. Its service portfolio spans six integrated lines: GMP APIs, contract research (mg-to-kg scale synthesis development), scale-up to industrial production (typically up to 100 kg/year), enantiomerically pure chiral intermediates, ICH-compliant stability studies, and GMP clinical-trial sample manufacturing — all under a modular project-responsibility model in which Chiracon assumes end-to-end ownership from molecular structure through regulatory documentation. The technology base is anchored by 13 patents (granted and pending), three GMP-certified production sites, ISO 9001:2015 quality management, German manufacturer authorisation, and a successful 2023 FDA inspection.\n\nChiracon serves pharmaceutical companies, large and hospital-supplying pharmacies, and hospitals on a global, direct B2B basis with quote-based, multi-year contracts and Ex Works Luckenwalde delivery. GTM is enterprise field sales supported by annual presence at CPHI (Milan 2024, Milan 2026 planned) and Chemspec Europe (Düsseldorf 2024, Cologne 2025) trade fairs. In 2021 the company established wholly-owned subsidiary Chiracon Pharma GmbH to develop and produce generic medicines, extending from pure service revenue into proprietary product economics.\n\nThe business is in an active capacity-expansion phase: a €10.5M new production and office building at the Luckenwalde Biotechnology Park broke ground in August 2023, completed in May 2025, and doubles manufacturing capacity. The investment is publicly co-financed by Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg, Bürgschaftsbank Brandenburg, and the Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft, with additional BMBF and EU co-development partnerships (Climbing Crohn, GLIOTAR, CEFOX, CEFOX 2, DECADES) extending the R&D footprint into theranostics, biocatalysis, and sustainability research. The founder, Dr. Ralf Zuhse, remains CEO and shareholder, with senior chemists holding German university doctorates heading production and quality control; headcount sits in the 11–50 band.

Name

Chiracon

Legal name

Chiracon GmbH

Website

https://chiracon.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chiracon GmbH is a German GMP-certified CDMO founded in 1998 that synthesises and manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients, chiral intermediates, and clinical-trial materials for pharmaceutical companies, large pharmacies, and hospitals worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Chiral / Asymmetric Synthesis & Complex Chemistry Services (HLAGAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

CMC & Pharmaceutical Development (Formulation/Process/Analytical Development) (HLAIALAD), Formulation & Preclinical CMC Support (Nonclinical) (HLAGAFAL), Clinical CROs (Phase I–IV) (HLAGAAAA)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical contract manufacturing
• Active pharmaceutical ingredients
• Chiral intermediates synthesis
• GMP-certified API production
• Custom chemical synthesis

Headquarters

HQ city

Luckenwalde

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing Services: Custom synthesis and manufacturing of APIs, intermediates, and pharmaceutical compounds for pharmaceutical companies. Services include development, optimization, scale-up, and GMP-certified production.
2. Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs): Production and sale of GMP-certified pharmaceutical active ingredients to pharmaceutical companies, large pharmacies, and hospitals. Includes in-house developed APIs.
3. Chiral Intermediates: Sale of enantiomerically pure intermediates for pharmaceutical synthesis and technical applications, including chiral alcohols, amines, and bromides
4. Stability Studies and Testing: Contracted stability studies and stress testing services for pharmaceutical products according to ICH guidelines

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Chiracon GmbH is a pharmaceutical contract manufacturing and research organization (CMO/CRO) that develops, optimizes, and produces active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and chiral intermediates for the pharmaceutical industry. The company offers a modular, end-to-end service portfolio covering synthesis development from mg to kg scale, scale-up to industrial production, GMP-certified API manufacturing, enantiomerically pure chiral intermediates, ICH-compliant stability studies, and GMP clinical trial sample production.

Product overview

Chiracon GmbH is a pharmaceutical contract manufacturing and research organization (CRO/CMO) founded in 1998 in Luckenwalde, Germany. The company does not offer a software product; its offering consists of a modular suite of laboratory and manufacturing services centered on the synthesis and production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and chiral intermediates. The portfolio comprises six interconnected service lines: APIs in GMP quality, Contract Research (synthesis development from mg to kg scale), Scale-Up (laboratory to industrial scale), Intermediates (enantiomerically pure chiral building blocks), Stability Studies (ICH-guideline compliant), and Clinical Trial Samples (GMP production for clinical phases). A seventh element — Quality Management — underpins all services, enabling GMP certification and regulatory documentation. Project responsibility is the overarching service model: Chiracon takes end-to-end ownership from molecule structure through product approval. The company has completed over 330 projects since founding and currently produces for numerous clinical projects. A subsidiary, Chiracon Pharma GmbH (founded 2021), focuses on developing and producing generic medicines. Production facilities are located in the Luckenwalde Biotechnology Park, with a new facility on Lise-Meitner-Str. completed in 2025 that doubled capacity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs / Wirkstoffe) GMP-quality pharmaceutical active ingredients supplied to the pharmaceutical industry and hospital-supplying pharmacies, including in-house developed APIs and GMP-certified production for drug development and commercial supply.
• Contract Research (Auftragsforschung)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 330 projects successfully completed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Climbing Crohn (BMBF Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMBF-funded project for Crohn's disease imaging using integrin-targeted molecular ultrasound. Chiracon responsible for optimizing synthesis, scaling, GMP-compliant manufacturing, production and stability testing of ultrasound contrast agent.
• GLIOTAR (BMBF Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMBF-funded theranostic project for glioblastoma treatment. Chiracon produces pharmacologically inactive prodrugs that are activated in the body, combined with therapeutic radioisotopes for targeted brain tumor treatment.
• CEFOX & CEFOX 2 (BMBF Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMBF-funded projects developing cell-free expression of customized oxyfunctionalizing peroxygenases for producing epoxidised lipids, oxyfunctionalized terpenoids and alkaloids. Chiracon responsible for scale-up and GMP-compliant synthesis.
• DECADES (EU Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded doctoral network training 10 PhD students in sustainability concepts for European biotechnology sector. Focus on bio-based Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) for industrial biocatalysis efficiency.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hovione: Hovione is a Portugal-headquartered CDMO specializing in API development and manufacturing, including chiral and complex chemistry. Directly comparable to Chiracon's custom synthesis, scale-up and GMP-certified API production for pharmaceutical customers.
• Carbogen Amcis: Carbogen Amcis (part of Dishman Carbogen Amcis) is a Swiss CDMO focused on highly potent APIs, chiral chemistry and contract development. Closely comparable business model and customer base to Chiracon.
• PharmaZell (now part of Axplora): Axplora (formerly PharmaZell/Farmabios) is a European API CDMO with German manufacturing footprint in Raubling. Similar profile to Chiracon in custom API and intermediates manufacturing, serving branded and generic pharma.
• WeylChem (ICIG) Custom Synthesis: WeylChem, the International Chemical Investors Group custom synthesis platform, provides fine chemicals and API intermediates at multi-kg to multi-ton scale. Comparable to Chiracon in chiral building blocks and customer base of pharma innovators.
• Cfm Oskar Tropitzsch: Cfm Oskar Tropitzsch is a German distributor and contract supplier of fine chemicals, APIs and chiral intermediates. Comparable in customer base (European pharma) and offering (specialty intermediates) to Chiracon, though primarily a trading platform.

Broad incumbents

• Siegfried Holding: Siegfried is a Swiss-listed CDMO offering API and intermediates manufacturing at commercial scale. Larger and broader than Chiracon but operates in the same API custom synthesis and chiral chemistry category.
• Johnson Matthey Pharmaceutical Materials & Services: Johnson Matthey's pharma services division offers custom API development and chiral catalysis expertise. A much larger incumbent, but overlapping with Chiracon's chiral intermediates and catalytic/enzymatic synthesis offering.
• Bachem: Bachem is a Swiss-listed CDMO specializing in peptides and complex small molecules including nucleosides — overlapping with Chiracon's nucleoside chemistry patents and complex API capability, though at much larger scale.
• AGC Pharma Chemicals Europe: AGC Pharma Chemicals is a global CDMO with European sites offering API and intermediates production. Larger incumbent in the same niche Chiracon serves, with broader geographic reach.
• Cambrex (now part of Permira / Symeres): Cambrex, acquired by Permira and merged into Symeres, is a global small-molecule CDMO offering custom development, chiral chemistry and clinical-to-commercial API manufacturing. A scaled incumbent in Chiracon's exact category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chiracon-gmbh

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Chiracon