Desitin Pharma GmbH

What Desitin Pharma GmbH does

Desitin Pharma GmbH is the Swiss subsidiary of family-owned Desitin Arzneimittel GmbH, a Hamburg-headquartered pharmaceutical company founded in 1919 (the Desitin brand itself dates to 1922). The group specializes in central nervous system (CNS) medications, with an exclusive focus on anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Desitin Pharma GmbH commercializes ten prescription AED preparations in Switzerland — including Apydan extent (oxcarbazepine), Lacosamid Desitin, Lamotrigin Desitin, Levetiracetam Desitin, Orfiril long (sodium valproate), Ospolot (sultiam), Phenhydan (phenytoin), Timonil retard (carbamazepine), Valproat Chrono Desitin, and Diazepam Desitin rectal tubes — across multiple dosage forms (film-coated tablets, quadri-scored tablets for titration, mini-tablets for dysphagic patients, prolonged-release formulations, IV solutions, oral solutions, syrups, and rectal tubes).

The core technical differentiator is galenic (formulation) optimization rather than novel molecular discovery: Desitin invests in specialized dosage forms that improve patient adherence, including quadri-scored tablets for precise dose titration and mini-tablets and oral suspensions for patients with swallowing difficulties. Complementary digital assets include the multi-platform Amiko Desitin application (macOS, Windows, iOS, Android) providing drug information, ATC codes, prices, and a database of over 15,000 drug interactions, and the Vademecum Antiepilepticum Helveticorum, a Swiss reference publication whose 3rd edition was released in 2025. Healthcare-professional content is gated through DocCheck and Desitin account authentication, reflecting the regulated nature of prescription drug marketing under the Heilmittelwerbegesetz.

The business model is pharmaceutical B2B2C: Desitin generates revenue through direct distribution of prescription medications to pharmacies, clinics, and hospitals. The group operates nine wholly-owned European subsidiaries (Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, UK, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Czech Republic) and reaches an additional 15+ countries through local distribution partners (e.g., INRESA in France, Aurobindo/Teva in the Netherlands, Ewopharma in Hungary, Medfiles in Estonia, Medsan in Turkey). Total group headcount is approximately 300 employees, the majority based at the Hamburg headquarters. Desitin is an independent, family-owned private company with no external institutional investors and no public listing. Management of the Swiss subsidiary comprises three Geschäftsführer: Peter Mathä, Katrin Thieken, and Philipp Bloching.

Name

Desitin Pharma GmbH

Legal name

Desitin Pharma GmbH

Website

https://desitin.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Desitin Pharma GmbH is the Swiss subsidiary of family-owned Desitin Arzneimittel GmbH (Hamburg), specializing in prescription anti-epileptic medications and marketing ten AED preparations across Switzerland and broader Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Anti-epileptic pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAA)

Keywords

• Anti-epileptic medications
• Epilepsy therapeutics
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• CNS medications
• Prescription drugs

Headquarters

HQ city

Liestal

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Desitin generates revenue through the sale of prescription anti-epileptic medications. The company commercializes 10 preparations in Switzerland across multiple formulations (tablets, IV solutions, oral solutions, rectal tubes) targeting patients with epilepsy. Revenue is generated through direct pharmaceutical distribution to pharmacies, clinics, and hospitals.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Desitin Pharma GmbH manufactures and distributes prescription anti-epileptic medications in Switzerland, commercializing 10 preparations across multiple active substances (oxcarbazepine, diazepam, lacosamide, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, valproate, sultiam, phenytoin, carbamazepine) and dosage forms (tablets, prolonged-release tablets, quadri-scored tablets, mini-tablets, oral solutions, IV solutions, rectal tubes). The company operates as the Swiss subsidiary of family-owned Desitin Arzneimittel GmbH (Hamburg, Germany), distributing products through direct sales to pharmacies, clinics, and hospitals and serving as the market specialist for epilepsy treatment in Switzerland.

Product overview

Desitin Pharma GmbH is a pharmaceutical company specializing in anti-epileptic medications. The company offers ten prescription anti-epileptic drugs available in Switzerland, covering both oral and parenteral administration routes. The product portfolio includes Apydan® extent (oxcarbazepine), Diazepam Desitin® rectal tubes, Lacosamid Desitin®, Lamotrigin Desitin®, Levetiracetam Desitin®, Orfiril® long, Ospolot®, Phenhydan®, Timonil® retard, and Valproat Chrono Desitin® (valproic acid). The company focuses on optimizing drug formulations, offering specialized dosage forms such as quadri-scorable tablets for easy titration and mini-tablets for patients with swallowing difficulties, with the goal of improving treatment adherence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Amiko Desitin App: Drug information, prices and interactions reference application available on macOS, Windows, iOS and Android with over 15,000 interactions and full-text search of professional information

Products and services

• Apydan® extent
• Diazepam Desitin® rectal tubes
• Lacosamid Desitin®
• Lamotrigin Desitin®
• Levetiracetam Desitin®
• Orfiril® long
• Ospolot®
• Phenhydan®
• Timonil® retard
• Valproat Chrono Desitin®

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• INRESAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorINRESA (1, rue Jean Monnet, 68870 Bartenheim, France) serves as the distribution partner for Desitin products in France. Contact: Jean-Claude Vogler (Pharmacist), [email protected].
• Mylan bvba (now part of Viatris)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMylan bvba (Brusselsesteenweg 288, 3090 Overijse, Belgium) distributes Desitin products in Belgium. Contact: Patrick Goovaerts.
• aop Orphan Pharmaceuticals AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributoraop Orphan Pharmaceuticals AG (Wilhelminenstr. 91/ll f, A-1160 Wien, Austria) distributes Desitin products in Austria.
• Sigmapharm ArzneimittelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSigmapharm Arzneimittel (Leystr. 129, A-1201 Wien, Austria) is an additional distribution partner for Desitin products in Austria.
• Swiss Epilepsy LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesitin supports the Swiss Epilepsy League which promotes knowledge about epilepsy, supports scientific research on causes and treatments, and maintains professional contacts with other epilepsy organizations.
• Swiss Epilepsy FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesitin supports the Swiss Epilepsy Foundation which provides care for people with epilepsy and other neurological diseases, including a historic children's home established in 1886.
• DocChecksupportingTechnology or IntegrationDocCheck provides authentication services for healthcare professional login to Desitin's Fachkreise portal. Medical professionals can use their DocCheck credentials to access restricted HCP content.
• Biocodex OYcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBiocodex OY (Metsänneidonkuja 8, FIN-02101 Espoo, Finland) distributes Desitin products in Finland. Contact: Tessa Ahosalmi.
• TecnifarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTecnifar Indústria Técnica Farmacêutica (Lisbon, Portugal) distributes Desitin products in Portugal. Contact: Telma Costa.
• Medical IntertradecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedical Intertrade (Dr. F. Tudmana 3, HR-10431 Sveta Nedelja, Croatia) distributes Desitin products in Croatia. Contact: Radwan Joukhadar.
• Ewopharma AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEwopharma AG Representation Office (Budapest, Hungary) distributes Desitin products in Hungary. Contact: Dr. Simon Csaba.
• MedsancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedsan (Anadolu Bulvari ATB iş merkezi I Blok No. 223, TR-06170 Ankara, Turkey) distributes Desitin products in Turkey.
• VISTOR hf.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVISTOR hf. (Hörgatúni 2, IS-212 Garðabær, Iceland) distributes Desitin products in Iceland. Contact: Amar Þórðarson.
• Lenis farmacevtikacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLenis farmacevtika d.o.o. (Litostrojska Cesta 52, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia) distributes Desitin products in Albania. Contact: Nejc Klopčič.
• Aurobindo Pharma B.V.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAurobindo Pharma B.V. (Baarnsche Dijk 1, NL-3741 LN Baarn, Netherlands) distributes Desitin products in the Netherlands. Contact: Bram de Haan.
• Allgen Pharmaceuticals B.V.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAllgen Pharmaceuticals B.V. (Rouboslaan 32, NL-2252 TR Voorschoten, Netherlands) distributes Desitin products in the Netherlands. Contact: Paul van Sprang.
• Teva NederlandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTeva Nederland (Swensweg 5, 2031 GA Haarlem, Netherlands) distributes Desitin products in the Netherlands.
• Medfiles OÜcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedfiles OÜ (Kastani 42, EE-50410 Tartu, Estonia) distributes Desitin products in Estonia.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Holds Epidiolex (cannabidiol) for seizure disorders, representing the new-wave, Dravet/Lennox-Gastaut-focused AED approach. Comparable on the epilepsy axis but with a differentiated cannabinoid modality.
• Marinus Pharmaceuticals: US-focused emerging player commercializing Ztalmy (ganaxolone) for CDKL5 deficiency disorder seizures. Comparable as an epilepsy-focused innovator but at earlier commercial scale and with a narrower portfolio.

Direct peers

• UCB: Belgian specialty pharma with a major epilepsy franchise (Keppra/levetiracetam, Vimpat/lacosamide, Briviact). Comparable to Desitin as a focused neurology player commercializing many of the same anti-epileptic molecules across Europe.
• Bial - Portela & Cª, S.A. Portuguese mid-sized pharma with a CNS portfolio including Zebinix (eslicarbazepine), positioned similarly to Desitin as a specialty neurology/Epi company commercializing AEDs across European markets.
• Eisai: Japanese pharma with significant epilepsy presence (Fycompa/perampanel, Inovelon/rufınamide). Comparable in CNS focus and in commercializing branded anti-epileptics targeting neurologists and epileptologists in Europe.
• Angelini Pharma: Privately-owned Italian mid-sized pharma with a strong CNS focus including epilepsy (e.g., Ontozry/cenobamate distribution in Europe). Closely comparable to Desitin as a family-owned, CNS-specialized European pharma.

Others

• Viatris (Mylan): Global generics manufacturer that is also a Desitin distribution partner in Belgium and the Netherlands. Comparable as a competitive force in generic AEDs and as a channel partner shaping Desitin's market access.
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries: Global generics leader and Desitin's distribution partner in the Netherlands. Competes with Desitin on generic AED molecules and influences channel access in shared markets.

Broad incumbents

• GSK (GlaxoSmithKline): Major pharma with Lamictal (lamotrigine), a leading AED also in Desitin's portfolio. Comparable as a competitor in lamotrigine supply but operates as a broad incumbent across many therapeutic areas.
• Pfizer: Historical AED franchise (Neurontin/gabapentin, Lyrica/pregabalin) and broad pharma scale. Comparable through overlap in epilepsy-adjacent neurology treatment and parallel channel influence in European tenders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/desitin-ch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries9 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 Desitin Pharma GmbH