Abnoba

What Abnoba does

ABNOBA GmbH is a privately held, non-profit-owned German pharmaceutical manufacturer founded in 1971 in Pforzheim (now headquartered in Niefern-Öschelbronn), specializing in herbal medicinal products for oncology. The company's core offering is abnobaVISCUM, a portfolio of more than 70 standardized mistletoe (Viscum album) extract preparations derived from nine host-tree varieties (fir, maple, almond, birch, hawthorn, ash, apple, pine, oak), administered via subcutaneous injection as complementary cancer therapy to strengthen the immune system, improve quality of life, and reduce side effects of conventional chemo- and radiotherapy. Manufacturing is anchored by patented pressing (EP 0 288 603 A1) and mixing (EP 0 310 984 B1) processes that achieve high lectin and viscotoxin content, produced in WHO-certified clean rooms; ongoing R&D includes two pending PCT filings for ~100nm liposome manufacturing (PCT/EP2019/0132 and PCT/EP2019/0133) enabling targeted tumor drug delivery, with the landmark TIM Phase III study testing mistletoe therapy against standard chemotherapy for superficial bladder carcinoma.

The company operates a B2B2C commercial model: in Germany, an in-house Außendienst (field sales) team and a DocCheck-gated professional portal serve physicians, oncologists, and Heilpraktiker, with dispensation through pharmacies; internationally, ABNOBA relies on country-specific distribution partners (e.g., GP Pharm in Argentina, LB ABNOBA in South Korea, Atos Pharma in Egypt, Tara Lohia Distributors in India, Terapeuticum in Russia) covering 20+ countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. The secondary product, Betula Folium D3 (birch leaf), complements the portfolio. Ownership is exclusively non-profit, with profits channelled into cancer research, and the company holds minority equity in KOREA ABNOBA Co. LTD (1999), Birken GmbH (2000), and Mediviscum S.A.C. (2004). Headcount is reported at 11-50 employees, and revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Abnoba

Legal name

ABNOBA GmbH

Website

https://abnoba.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Abnoba GmbH is a German, non-profit-owned pharmaceutical manufacturer founded in 1971 that produces over 70 standardized mistletoe (Viscum album) extract preparations under the abnobaVISCUM brand for complementary cancer therapy, distributed to oncology patients and healthcare professionals across 20+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Herbal Oncology Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Herbal & Botanical Supplements (CRADAGAD)

Keywords

• Herbal oncology pharmaceuticals
• Mistletoe therapy preparations
• Complementary cancer treatment
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing Germany
• Plant-based medicinal products

Headquarters

HQ city

Niefern-Öschelbronn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Sale of abnobaVISCUM mistletoe preparations and Betula Folium products to patients and healthcare providers. Products are available by prescription and sold through pharmacies and medical practices.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ABNOBA GmbH manufactures and sells abnobaVISCUM, a line of standardized mistletoe (Viscum album) extract preparations used as complementary therapy in oncology. The products are derived from nine different host trees (fir, maple, almond, birch, hawthorn, ash, apple, pine, oak) and are administered via subcutaneous injection to support immune function and quality of life during conventional cancer treatment. A secondary birch-leaf product, Betula Folium D3, complements the portfolio.

Product overview

ABNOBA GmbH is an independent, medium-sized, research-based pharmaceutical manufacturer specializing in herbal medicinal products for oncology. The company operates a single-product focus model centered on mistletoe (Viscum album) therapy under the abnobaVISCUM brand. The main product line includes nine mistletoe varieties derived from different host trees (fir, maple, almond, birch, hawthorn, ash, apple, pine, oak), available in multiple concentrations, administered via subcutaneous injection as complementary cancer therapy. A secondary product, Betula Folium D3 (birch leaf preparation), complements the portfolio. The company was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Niefern-Öschelbronn, Germany, with distribution to over 20 countries worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• abnobaVISCUM: The main product brand for mistletoe preparations used in cancer therapy, available in over 70 different mistletoe products marketed worldwide
• Betula Folium D3

Products and services

• abnobaVISCUM Standardized mistletoe (Viscum album) extract preparations for complementary cancer therapy, derived from nine host-tree varieties (Abietis/fir, Aceris/maple, Amygdali/almond, Betulae/birch, Crataegi/hawthorn, Fraxini/ash, Mali/apple, Pini/pine, Quercus/oak) and administered via subcutaneous injection. Prescribed and dispensed to oncology patients to strengthen immune function, improve quality of life, reduce side effects of chemotherapy/radiotherapy, and support recurrence prevention.
• Betula Folium D3 Birch leaf preparation manufactured by ABNOBA, positioned within the company's herbal medicinal portfolio alongside abnobaVISCUM. Subject to German legal restrictions on disease-related patient information.

Quantifiable outcome

• Improvement in quality of life including fatigue, sleep quality, appetite, and reduced susceptibility to infections
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for drug targeting through liposomal processing of medicinal products. Part of the Marie Curie ACTIONS project (2013) on targeted transport of active substances in the human body.
• Universität UtrechtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Marie Curie ACTIONS project (2013) for research on drug targeting and liposomal processing of mistletoe preparations.
• Universität UppsalacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Marie Curie ACTIONS project (2013) for research on drug targeting and liposomal processing of mistletoe preparations.
• Universitätsklinikum FreiburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing research collaboration including studies on Viscum Album neutralizing tumor-induced immunosuppression in human in vitro cell models.
• Universität Duisburg EssencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Dr. Stephan Tschirdewahn serving as coordinating investigator for the TIM study on superficial bladder carcinoma.
• Carl Gustav Carus-InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership focused on anthroposophical medicine and mistletoe therapy research.
• Forschungsinstitut HavelhöheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration in the field of biological cancer therapy.
• AnthromedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in anthroposophical medicine sector.
• Dachverband Anthroposophische Medizin in Deutschland (DAMID)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUmbrella organization for anthroposophical medicine in Germany.
• Bundesverband der Pharmazeutischen Industrie e.V. (BPI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association membership for pharmaceutical manufacturers in Germany.
• Gesellschaft für Biologische Krebsabwehr e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman society for biological cancer defense - partner in biological cancer therapy sector.
• Kooperation Phytopharmaka e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation of phytopharmaceutical companies for herbal medicine research.
• GP Pharm S.A. (Argentina)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Argentina, located at Helguera 2756, C1417 CQL Buenos Aires.
• LB ABNOBA Co., Ltd. (South Korea)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for South Korea, located at SK V1 Center 301-302, 11 Dangsan-ro 41-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.
• KES Pharma GmbH (China Representative)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChina representative - Dr. Kan Fu as CEO of KES Pharma GmbH representing ABNOBA in Greater China region.
• Auning Apotek (Denmark)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Denmark, Centervej 4 B, 8963 Auning.
• Atos Pharma (Egypt)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Egypt, 1 Belbis Desert Road, Cairo. Also involved in TIM study as Egyptian study center.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bionorica SE: German phytopharmaceutical company developing evidence-based herbal medicines; comparable in category (botanical pharma), regulatory pathway (HMPC/THMP), and German specialty pharma positioning, though focused on non-oncology indications.
• Helixor Heilmittel GmbH: German manufacturer of injectable mistletoe (Viscum album) extracts for integrative oncology, directly competing with abnobaVISCUM across overlapping host-tree varieties and prescriber base in German-speaking markets.
• Heel GmbH: German pharmaceutical company specializing in combination homeopathic/bioregulatory medicines; overlaps with ABNOBA in the integrative and complementary medicine prescribing channel and anthroposophical-adjacent positioning.
• Salus Haus GmbH: German herbal medicinal products manufacturer with comparable botanical-pharma product portfolio and pharmacy/Heilpraktiker channel overlap with ABNOBA.
• Iscador AG: Swiss manufacturer of fermented mistletoe preparations for cancer therapy; historically the dominant mistletoe brand globally and the most direct competitor to ABNOBA's abnobaVISCUM line.
• Weleda AG: Swiss anthroposophical medicine manufacturer historically affiliated with Iscador mistletoe therapy; shares ABNOBA's anthroposophical heritage and complementary oncology positioning, with overlapping prescriber (Heilpraktiker) channels.

Broad incumbents

• Vifor Pharma: Swiss specialty pharmaceutical company with botanical and iron-deficiency franchises; comparable as a mid-sized European pharma with manufacturing in GMP facilities and specialty distribution — though focused on non-oncology.
• Schwabe Group (Dr. Willmar Schwabe): Major German herbal pharmaceutical manufacturer with global distribution; overlaps with ABNOBA in botanical drug manufacturing scale and German phytopharma industry participation, but operates a much broader non-oncology portfolio.
• Celgene (Bristol-Myers Squibb): Major oncology pharmaceutical incumbent with deep bladder cancer and supportive-care portfolio; represents the mainstream oncology counterweight whose evidence bar ABNOBA must meet to expand beyond integrative prescribers.

Regional players

• Medice Arzneimittel Pütter GmbH: German mid-sized specialty pharma with strong prescription channel presence in German-speaking markets; comparable as a privately held, family/owner-managed pharma operating through physician field-sales and pharmacy distribution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@abnobade
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61562311236036
• Instagraminstagram.com/abnoba_de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abnoba-de

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Abnoba