Niehaus Pharma

What Niehaus Pharma does

Niehaus Pharma GmbH & Co. KG is a German pharmaceutical company founded around 2012 and headquartered in Ingelheim am Rhein. The company developed and sold traditional herbal medicinal products (phytopharmaceuticals), specifically three branded OTC remedies: Lioran® centra (a passionflower-based product for sleep disorders), Lioran® Die Passionsblume (for nervous restlessness), and Gasteo® (digestive drops for mild gastrointestinal complaints). Products were distributed through pharmacies in Germany under the brand positioning 'Wirksam. Natürlich. Verträglich. Zum Wohle des Patienten' (Effective. Natural. Tolerable. For the well-being of the patient). Pricing was not publicly disclosed, and the company operated with 1-10 employees.

On November 1, 2022, Niehaus Pharma executed a transformative divestiture, selling its entire commercial product portfolio (Lioran, Lioran Centra, and Gasteo) along with the associated trademarks to Cesra Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG, a 1929-founded phytopharmaceutical manufacturer. Post-divestiture, the company retains its GmbH & Co. KG legal entity and website presence but no longer holds any commercial product assets. Future profits derived from the divested brands will flow into the Redel Stiftung humanitarian foundation. The company is led by Managing Director (Geschäftsführer) Andreas Niehaus, who also controls the general partner entity Niehaus Verwaltungs GmbH. The business model going forward appears to be that of a residual holding or legacy entity rather than an active operating company.

Name

Niehaus Pharma

Legal name

Niehaus Pharma GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://niehaus-pharma.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Niehaus Pharma is a German pharmaceutical company that developed and sold traditional herbal medicinal products through pharmacies. In November 2022, it divested its entire core brand portfolio (Lioran, Lioran Centra, Gasteo) to Cesra Arzneimittel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Herbal Pharmaceuticals (Phytopharmaceuticals)

NAICS

Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Sleep, Stress & Mood Support (HLAIADAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Herbal & Botanical Supplements (CRADAGAD)

Keywords

• Herbal medicines
• Phytopharmaceutical products
• Sleep disorder remedies
• Natural nervous remedies
• Digestive health products

Headquarters

HQ city

Ingelheim Am Rhein

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Niehaus Pharma develops and sells traditional herbal medicinal products (phytopharmaceuticals) under three branded product lines: Lioran® centra (passionflower-based remedy for sleep disorders and nervous strain), Lioran® Die Passionsblume (passionflower-based remedy for nervous restlessness), and Gasteo® (herbal drops for mild digestive complaints such as bloating, flatulence, and cramp-like stomach-intestinal discomfort). The products are sold through pharmacies in Germany under the motto "Wirksam. Natürlich. Verträglich. Zum Wohle des Patienten" (Effective. Natural. Tolerable. For the well-being of the patient). As of November 1, 2022, the three leading brands were transferred to Cesra Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG.

Product overview

Niehaus Pharma is a pharmaceutical company offering a portfolio of traditional herbal medicines (phytopharmaceuticals). The core product portfolio consists of three branded remedies: Lioran® centra (passionflower-based product for sleep disorders), Lioran® Die Passionsblume (passionflower product for nervous restlessness), and Gasteo® (gastrointestinal drops for mild digestive complaints). As of November 1, 2022, these leading brands were transferred to Cesra Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG, which continues the brand development and distribution of these products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lioran® centra

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Cesra Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KGminorOthers · 1 November 2022Products Lioran, Lioran Centra, and Gasteo were sold to Cesra Arzneimittel on November 1, 2022. Cesra, founded in 1929, is a recognized manufacturer of phytopharmaceuticals and medical cosmetics. The success story of the products is continued by Cesra. Both companies share the goal of brand building on solid medical and pharmaceutical basis.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Others

• Abtei Pharma (P&G Health): Abtei operates as part of P&G Health and markets herbal-based OTC products (valerian, etc.) for sleep and nervous tension in German pharmacies. Comparable at the product-positioning level even though parent scale is dramatically larger; serves as a reference for competitive premia around passionflower/valerian-based sleep remedies.

Broad incumbents

• Bionorica SE: Bionorica is one of Europe's largest manufacturers of phytopharmaceuticals, with products spanning sleep/calm, respiratory, and gynecological indications. Comparable as a vertically integrated phytopharmaceutical player targeting pharmacy distribution with traditional herbal positioning similar to Niehaus's Lioran line.
• Klosterfrau Healthcare Group: Klosterfrau is a heritage German herbal medicine brand producing a broad portfolio of plant-based OTC products distributed through pharmacies. Comparable as a traditional German phytopharmaceutical house with overlapping categories and pharmacy-channel distribution.
• Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH: Heel is a globally active German manufacturer of natural medicines combining herbal and homeopathic ingredients, with pharmacy-channel distribution across indications including sleep and nervous system. Comparable due to its German heritage, focus on natural medicines, and pharmacy distribution model.
• Schwabe Pharma (Schwabe Group): Schwabe Group is the leading German phytopharmaceutical manufacturer, producing plant-based medicinal products in categories including sleep, nervous system, and digestive health. Directly comparable to Niehaus Pharma's historical positioning as a German herbal medicine specialist targeting pharmacy channels.

Regional players

• Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG: Dr. Willmar Schwabe (the original Schwabe entity, now focused on the international business) is a leading global phytopharmaceutical company with products in nervous system and sleep. Highly comparable in therapeutic categories but operates globally via subsidiaries outside of Germany.

Direct peers

• Steigerwald Arzneimittelwerk GmbH: Steigerwald (a Bayer subsidiary) manufactures plant-based medicines including Iberogast for digestive complaints — a near analog to Gasteo. Highly comparable as a German phytopharmaceutical specialist selling through pharmacies in overlapping gastrointestinal and nervous system indications.
• Salus Group: Salus Group is a German herbal medicinal product manufacturer offering plant-based tonics, drops, and tablets in categories including sleep and digestion, sold via pharmacy and organic channels. Directly comparable given similar OTC phytopharmaceutical positioning and German market focus.
• Cesra Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG: Cesra Arzneimittel is the direct acquirer of Niehaus Pharma's Lioran, Lioran Centra, and Gasteo brands and is itself a recognized manufacturer of phytopharmaceuticals founded in 1929. It is highly comparable as both a competitor and partner, operating in the same German herbal medicine niche with overlapping indications (sleep, nervous restlessness, digestive health).
• Pascoe Naturmedizin: Pascoe is a German mid-sized manufacturer of natural medicines and phytopharmaceuticals, distributed through pharmacies. Comparable due to similar size, German focus, and herbal product portfolio overlapping with Niehaus's nervous system/sleep and digestive categories.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Niehaus Pharma