Kölsche Blister

What Kölsche Blister does

Kölsche Blister GmbH is a Cologne-based, privately held pharmaceutical service company founded in 2009 that specializes in patient-individual medication blistering (patientenindividuelle Arzneimittelverblisterung). The company operates a single GMP-certified cleanroom manufacturing facility at Siegburger Str. 189a, Köln, where it assembles Schlauchblister (tube blister) packages organized by intake time sequence so that the right medication in the right dosage is available at the right time. It holds a manufacturing license under §13 of the German Medicines Act (AMG), complies with EU-GMP guidelines, and is regularly audited by the Bezirksregierung Köln. A photo-optical and visual quality-control system inspects every produced blister pouch.

The company's commercial model centers on German pharmacies (Apotheken) as the primary ordering party. Pharmacies transmit patient medication plans digitally via the Kölsche Blister customer portal (Kundenportal) on a weekly basis, with integration to Awinta's Blistermed pharmacy management software. Finished blisters are distributed either through pharmaceutical wholesale networks or via direct transport service providers to pharmacies, which then dispense to care facilities (Pflegeeinrichtungen), ambulatory nursing services (Ambulante Pflegedienste), and private patients. Revenue is generated per tablet with monthly consolidated invoicing, producing a recurring, prescription-tied revenue stream. The company also operates Germany's only PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) blister packaging service — launched as a pilot in 2017 and scaled since 2021 via a partnership with TAD Pharma for the supply of Emtenovo 200mg/245mg — enabling nationwide HIV prevention access including for uninsured patients, a category expanded materially by PrEP's inclusion as a statutory health insurance (GKV) benefit in 2019.

Kölsche Blister is founder-controlled under Managing Director Christian Thielemeier, with no disclosed external investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity. It is a member of the BPAV (Bundesverband Patientenindividueller Verblisterer) industry association and partners with Medios AG for pharmaceutical supply chain integration. The business is a regulated, niche specialty manufacturer rather than a venture-backed technology business, and its expansion levers are constrained by the structure of German pharmaceutical distribution and statutory reimbursement.

Name

Kölsche Blister

Legal name

Kölsche Blister GmbH

Website

https://koelsche-blister.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cologne-based Kölsche Blister GmbH supplies German pharmacies with patient-individual medication blister packaging (Schlauchblister) produced under GMP cleanroom conditions, plus specialized PrEP blistering for HIV prevention, serving care facilities, nursing services, and private patients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Packaging Services

NAICS

Paperboard Container Manufacturing (32221)

SIC

Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650)

akta.pro primary industry

Medication Adherence, Packaging & Fulfillment Services (Blister/Unit-Dose) (HLAFALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Primary Pharmaceutical Packaging (Blister Packs, Bottles, Vials, Ampoules) (IMALAIAA)

Keywords

• Medication blistering services
• Patient-individual blistering
• Pharmaceutical packaging
• Medication management solutions
• PrEP blister packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medication Blistering Services: Patient-individual medication blistering service for care facilities, ambulatory nursing services, and private individuals. Pharmacies order weekly blisters via digital platform; company produces under GMP conditions and ships to pharmacies. Invoicing is per tablet with monthly consolidated billing.
2. PrEP Blistering Services: Specialized blistering of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) medication for HIV prevention. PrEP can be prescribed for 4, 8, or 12 weeks on private prescription.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kölsche Blister assembles complex patient-individual medication regimens into automated tube blisters (Schlauchblister) under EU-GMP cleanroom conditions, organized by intake time sequence. Pharmacies transmit digital orders weekly, the company produces quality-controlled blisters with photo-optical inspection, and ships via pharmaceutical wholesale or direct transport to pharmacies for distribution to care facilities, ambulatory nursing services, and private individuals.

Product overview

Kölsche Blister operates as a blister packaging service provider with a portfolio centered on patient-individual medication blister packaging (Schlauchblister) and specialized PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) blister services. The core offering consists of automated Schlauchblister production under GMP conditions, controlled through a customer portal platform and integrated with pharmacy software systems like Awinta's Blistermed. The company provides end-to-end services from digital order submission through quality-controlled manufacturing to logistics distribution via pharmaceutical wholesalers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Schlauchblister (Tube Blister Packaging) Patient-individual medication blister packaging assembled automatically according to intake time sequences under GMP cleanroom conditions, ensuring correct medication in correct dosage at the right time. Sold to pharmacies that serve care facilities, ambulatory nursing services, and private patients.
• PrEP Blister Packaging (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) Blister-packaged HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis containing Emtricitabin and Tenofovirdisoproxil (Emtenovo 200mg/245mg by TAD), produced under cleanroom conditions with one tablet per day in sealed pouches. Targeted at pharmacies serving private PrEP prescriptions for 4, 8, or 12 weeks.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TAD (TAD Pharma GmbH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Since 2021, TAD supplies Emtenovo 200mg/245mg (generic of Truvada containing Emtricitabin and Tenofovirdisoproxil) for blistering under cleanroom conditions. TAD's PrEP medication is blister into daily-dose pouches and shipped to supplying pharmacies, enabling nationwide affordable PrEP access especially for those without statutory health insurance coverage.
• Hexal AGminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Hexal was the initial partner during the PrEP pilot project launch in 2017. This partnership established the company's role as Germany's first PrEP blistering provider.
• BPAV (Bundesverband Patientenindividueller Verblisterer e.V.)minorOthersThe company is a member of BPAV, the Federal Association of Patient-Individual Blistering, representing the industry in Germany.
• Medios AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany is a partner of Medios AG, a specialized pharmaceutical company. The partnership likely relates to medication supply chain and distribution for the blistering services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BlisterPlus GmbH: German patient-individual medication blistering service for pharmacies, ambulatory nursing, and care facilities. Same customer base (Apotheken, Pflegeeinrichtungen) and comparable per-tablet subscription model.
• Medios AG: Berlin-based specialty pharma company and existing Kölsche Blister partner. Operates in patient-individual compounding and pharmaceutical supply for pharmacies, sharing the GMP-quality, pharmacy-channel GTM motion Kölsche uses.
• PharmaCare GmbH: German pharmacy services company offering blister packaging solutions. Competes in the same patient-individual blistering niche with comparable GMP-certified production.
• AvP Deutschland GmbH: Pharmacy cooperative and pharmaceutical service provider serving German Apotheken with blistering, logistics, and supply services. Overlaps Kölsche's pharmacy-channel model at scale.
• Pharma-Zentrale GmbH: German pharmaceutical service provider offering patient-individual blistering for pharmacies and care facilities. Directly competes in the same Schlauchblister market as Kölsche Blister.

Broad incumbents

• AptarGroup: Global leader in drug delivery and packaging components including blister films. Does not offer patient-individual blistering services, but represents the broad incumbent packaging ecosystem Kölsche plugs into.
• Gerresheimer AG: Large German pharmaceutical packaging manufacturer producing primary packaging (vials, ampoules, blister components). Much larger scale; competes indirectly in pharmaceutical packaging rather than patient-individual blistering services.
• West Pharmaceutical Services: Global primary packaging and drug-delivery company for injectables and oral dose containment. Comparable in regulatory depth (GMP, audited) but focused on containment components rather than per-patient blistering.
• SCHOTT AG (SCHOTT Pharma): Major pharmaceutical packaging manufacturer (vials, syringes, ampoules). Adjacent to blister packaging; far larger but does not offer Kölsche's per-patient blister service.

Others

• Syntegon Technology (formerly Bosch Packaging): German manufacturer of pharmaceutical packaging machinery, including automated blister lines. Not a service competitor but supplies the equipment layer Kölsche's tube-blisters depend on.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

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 Kölsche Blister