ChemCon
ChemCon GmbH is a Freiburg-based, owner-managed CDMO founded in 1997 that provides GMP-compliant custom synthesis, process development, and analytical services for APIs, fine chemicals, and specialty polymers, serving pharmaceutical and biotech clients across Europe, North America, and Asia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersFreiburg Im Breisgau, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ChemCon does
ChemCon GmbH is an owner-managed contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) founded in 1997 and headquartered in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. The company specializes in the GMP-compliant synthesis and analysis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), new chemical entities (NCEs), fine chemicals, and specialty GMP-grade polymers including Polyethylenimines (PEI) and Polyoxazolines (POx). Operationally, ChemCon runs multipurpose reactors supported by dedicated equipment for cytotoxic and highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPIs) and BtMG-regulated compounds, with commercial-scale batch sizes ranging from less than 100 grams to several hundred kilograms annually for injectable, ophthalmic, oral, and topical formulations. The company has passed over 200 GMP audits since founding, including an FDA inspection in 2018 and an EU GMP inspection by the Regierungspräsidium Tübingen in 2024.
ChemCon generates revenue primarily through project-based CDMO contracts with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, covering custom synthesis, process development, GMP pilot and commercial batches, and clinical study active substances. Secondary revenue streams include contract analytical services (ICH-compliant quality control, method development and validation, stability studies, impurity determination, reference standards) and the sale of catalog GMP products such as Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate (STDS). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is project-specific, driven by molecular complexity, scale, and regulatory scope. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales through senior business development staff (Head of Business Development Reinhard Hirsch, sales manager Dr. Jürgen Hain), supplemented by international industry events (CPHI Japan, BIO-Europe Spring) and a channel partnership with San Ten Consulting LLC for Japan. Customers include generic pharmaceutical manufacturers, biotechnology companies developing rare disease and orphan drug therapies, and specialty chemical buyers of GMP polymers, primarily served across Europe, North America, and increasingly Japan.
ChemCon firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ChemCon
- Legal name
- ChemCon GmbH
- Website
- https://chemcon.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- ChemCon GmbH is a Freiburg-based, owner-managed CDMO founded in 1997 that provides GMP-compliant custom synthesis, process development, and analytical services for APIs, fine chemicals, and specialty polymers, serving pharmaceutical and biotech clients across Europe, North America, and Asia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ChemCon industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing (CDMO)
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Small-Molecule API & Intermediates CDMO (HLAGABAA)
Keywords
Where ChemCon is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Freiburg Im Breisgau
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
ChemCon business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Contract Development and Manufacturing (CDMO Services): Custom synthesis and process development services for pharmaceutical raw materials, fine chemicals, and APIs. Services include organic and inorganic chemistry, polymer chemistry, technical batches and GMP pilot batches, active substances for clinical studies, and cytotoxic/HPAPI compounds. Revenue generated through project-based contracts with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
- GMP Product Sales: Sale of manufactured GMP products including GMP-Polymers (Polyethylenimines, Polyoxazolines), GMP Products (APIs), and Fine Chemicals. Products include Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate (STDS) as an established pharmaceutical ingredient.
- Analytical Services: Contract analytical services including chemical testing, quality control (identity and purity testing), stability studies, analytical method development and validation, qualification and release analysis, and reference standards.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
ChemCon product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ChemCon is a GMP-compliant contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that synthesizes and analyzes active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), new chemical entities, and fine chemicals in small to medium quantities. It provides custom synthesis, process development, GMP production, analytical services, and sells GMP polymers and select APIs to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
Product overview
ChemCon is a CDMO (Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization) offering a portfolio of GMP-compliant products and custom manufacturing services for the pharmaceutical industry. The product portfolio includes three main product lines: GMP-Polymers (comprising Polyethylenimines, Polyoxazolines, and custom polymers), GMP Products (APIs), and Fine Chemicals, as well as Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate (STDS) as a specific established API product. These are complemented by two core service offerings: Custom Development & Manufacturing (covering synthesis, process development, and GMP production from grams to 100+ kg scale) and Analytical Services (spanning quality control, method development, and regulatory support). The offering is a unified CDMO service model where products and services are integrated to support pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients from preclinical development through commercial supply.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Custom Development & Manufacturing Contract development and manufacturing services including custom synthesis, process development, organic and inorganic chemistry, polymer chemistry, technical and GMP pilot batches, active substances for clinical studies, and cytotoxic/highly potent or BtMG regulated compounds for pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
- Analytical Services Comprehensive analytical services including chemical testing, quality control (identity, purity, stability studies), method development and validation, qualification and release analysis, and reference standards.
- GMP-Polymers A product line of GMP-compliant polymers including custom polymers, Polyethylenimines (PEI), and Polyoxazolines (POx) manufactured under GMP conditions for pharmaceutical applications.
- GMP Products (APIs) Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) manufactured under GMP guidelines for clinical and commercial pharmaceutical applications.
- Fine Chemicals High-purity fine chemicals for pharmaceutical and chemical applications, produced to quality specifications.
- Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate (STDS) An established active pharmaceutical ingredient used as a sclerosing agent in the treatment of varicose veins and vascular diseases, with emerging applications in venous malformations, interventional radiology, and rare vascular diseases.
- Two New Condensation Units for Multipurpose Reactors Expanded multipurpose reactor capabilities with two new condensation units enhancing process capabilities for reactions requiring efficient condensation and return of solvents or reaction components, used in both R&D and GMP-compliant production areas within cleanrooms.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 200 successful GMP audits since founding in 1997 with full customer satisfaction
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ChemCon
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ChemCon technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
ChemCon partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- San Ten Consulting LLCcoreSan Ten Consulting LLC supports ChemCon's Japan operations and customer communications. The partner serves as the local contact for customers and business partners in Japan, enabling ChemCon to strengthen its presence in the Japanese market without establishing a direct office. At CPHI Japan 2026, San Ten Consulting will join Dr. Jurgen Hein (sales manager) at the booth for consultations with potential clients.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ChemCon competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
Broad incumbents
- Catalent: Large global CDMO offering small-molecule development, API, and finished dose services. Comparable in API and drug-product work, but with significantly larger scale, breadth, and integration across dosage forms.
- Johnson Matthey (Fine Chemicals): Large, diversified chemicals and catalysts company with a fine chemicals and API CDMO division. Overlaps with ChemCon on complex small-molecule API manufacture but at much greater scale and with broader portfolio offerings.
- Sanofi Active Ingredients (CDMO): Sanofi's commercial API and CDMO offering competes for small-molecule API contracts across generic and branded pharma. Far larger scale than ChemCon, with overlapping customer base and GMP API services.
Direct peers
- Hovione: Portugal-headquartered CDMO specializing in small-molecule API development and HPAPI handling, with comparable focus on GMP polymer and particle engineering. Directly comparable niche and customer base to ChemCon's API and HPAPI work.
- Carbogen Amcis: Swiss CDMO (part of Dishman Carbogen Amcis) focused on HPAPI, cytotoxic, and complex small-molecule APIs under GMP. Closely overlaps ChemCon in handling highly potent compounds for clinical and commercial supply.
- Corden Pharma: European CDMO providing small-molecule API, finished dosage, and specialty manufacturing. Overlaps with ChemCon on the small-molecule API segment and serves similar pharma and biotech customers.
- AGC Pharma Chemicals: Japanese-headquartered CDMO providing small-molecule API and contract manufacturing, with European facilities. Direct competitor for European pharma customers and a natural reference for ChemCon's Japan ambitions.
- Aesica Pharmaceuticals: European CDMO focused on small-molecule API and finished dosage forms serving pharma and biotech customers. Comparable service mix to ChemCon, including clinical and commercial API supply.
- Siegfried Holding: Swiss-listed API manufacturer with CDMO services covering small-molecule APIs from clinical to commercial. Comparable in GMP API focus, though larger and with broader geographic footprint than ChemCon.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ChemCon social profiles
Digital presenceChemCon compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
ChemCon financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ChemCon leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
ChemCon funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ChemCon 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 ChemCon
What does ChemCon do?
ChemCon is a GMP-compliant contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that synthesizes and analyzes active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), new chemical entities, and fine chemicals in small to medium quantities. It provides custom synthesis, process development, GMP production, analytical services, and sells GMP polymers and select APIs to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
Is ChemCon a public or private company?
ChemCon is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ChemCon founded?
ChemCon was founded in 1997. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is ChemCon based?
ChemCon is headquartered in Freiburg Im Breisgau, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does ChemCon make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Contract Development and Manufacturing (CDMO Services) is the primary driver. The others are GMP Product Sales and analytical Services.
Who are ChemCon's main competitors?
Lonza is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Catalent, Johnson Matthey (Fine Chemicals) and Sanofi Active Ingredients (CDMO). Direct peers are Hovione, Carbogen Amcis, Corden Pharma, AGC Pharma Chemicals, Aesica Pharmaceuticals and Siegfried Holding.
Does ChemCon have an API?
No public API is recorded for ChemCon.
What industry is ChemCon in?
ChemCon's product category is Pharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing (CDMO). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGABAA, Small-Molecule API & Intermediates CDMO. Its NAICS code is 3254 and its SIC code is 2834.