Berlin-chemie Ag

What Berlin-chemie Ag does

Berlin-Chemie AG is a German pharmaceutical company headquartered in Berlin-Adlershof, founded in 1890 as Kahlbaum Laboratory Preparations and operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Italian Menarini Group since 1992. The company develops, manufactures, and distributes prescription pharmaceuticals and consumer healthcare products across 13 therapeutic areas — including respiratory, diabetes, cardiovascular, dermatology, thyroid, gout, chronic insomnia, pain, gastrointestinal, and fever/cold — with a portfolio of 80+ products and manufacturing capacity of over 200 million finished packages per year across solid, liquid, and semi-solid forms. Major brands and assets include the Genuair and Ellipta inhaler lines (Bretaris, Brimica, Laventair, Relvar, Revinty, Rolufta, Elebrato), the GlucoMen Day CGM continuous glucose monitoring system, Ranexa, Pangrol, Ryaltris, Sympal, and QUVIVIQ, complemented by digital services such as the Medical Hub for healthcare professionals, TheraKey digital therapy companion, and Berliner-Akademie medical training.

Berlin-Chemie functions as the regional headquarters of the Menarini Group for Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CIS), with local subsidiaries in 30+ countries including Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Kazakhstan, and others, supported by a German field sales force, pharmacy distribution (Bärenpost), and health insurance discount contracts (Rabattverträge). It is the largest production site of the Menarini Group, contributing to the parent's 140-country footprint and approximately 17,000-employee organization, and reported revenue of approximately €1.5 billion in 2024. Through both organic R&D at its Berlin site — one of five global Menarini research locations alongside Italy, New York, Barcelona, and Singapore — and a series of strategic acquisitions and licensing deals (notably the 2020 Stemline Therapeutics acquisition for up to $677 million and agreements with Insilico Medicine, Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, Chugai, NewAmsterdam Pharma, and Karyopharm), the company is extending its footprint into oncology and anti-infectives.

Name

Berlin-chemie Ag

Legal name

Berlin-Chemie AG

Website

https://berlin-chemie.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1890

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Berlin-Chemie AG is a German pharmaceutical manufacturer and wholly owned Menarini Group subsidiary operating since 1890, developing, producing, and distributing over 80 prescription and consumer healthcare products across 13 therapeutic areas from its Berlin sites and serving 30+ countries in Central, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity) (HLAIAAAE)

Keywords

• Prescription pharmaceuticals
• Consumer healthcare
• Continuous glucose monitoring
• Medical diagnostics devices
• Aesthetic medicine products

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin-müggelheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical product sales: Berlin-Chemie develops, manufactures, and distributes pharmaceutical products generating revenue through product sales. The company produces over 80 products across 13 therapeutic areas. In 2024, Berlin-Chemie achieved revenue of approximately 1.5 billion euros. Revenue is generated via field sales to healthcare providers, pharmacy distribution, and health insurance discount contracts (Rabattverträge).
2. Licensing and distribution agreements: Berlin-Chemie holds exclusive licensing rights for products (e.g., ONICIT/ALOXI/AKYNZEO from Helsinn Group in Russia and CIS region, GlucoMen devices) and distributes diagnostic products (Menarini Diagnostics).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Berlin-Chemie AG develops, manufactures, and distributes pharmaceutical products across prescription therapeutics (respiratory, diabetes, cardiovascular, dermatology, thyroid, gout, chronic insomnia) and consumer healthcare (pain, gastrointestinal, fever and cold), supported by diagnostic devices (GlucoMen Day CGM), aesthetic medicine brands (Relife), and digital therapy platforms (TheraKey, Medical Hub). As the largest production site of the Menarini Group, it manufactures over 200 million packages of finished pharmaceuticals annually across more than 80 products in 13 therapeutic areas.

Product overview

Berlin-Chemie AG develops, manufactures, and distributes pharmaceutical products across prescription pharmaceuticals and consumer healthcare categories. The product portfolio includes over 80 products across 13 therapeutic areas, with key offerings in respiratory diseases (Bretaris Genuair, Brimica Genuair, Laventair Ellipta, Relvar Ellipta, Revinty Ellipta, Rolufta Ellipta), diabetes (GlucoMen Day CGM, GlucoMen areo Sensor), cardiovascular (Ranexa), gastrointestinal (Pangrol), and insomnia (QUVIVIQ). Digital support is provided through TheraKey (digital therapy companion), Medical Hub (healthcare professional portal), and Berliner-Akademie (medical education). The company operates as the largest production site of the Menarini Group, manufacturing solid, liquid, and semi-solid pharmaceutical forms totaling over 200 million packages annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TheraKey: Digital therapy support platform for patients
• Berliner-Akademie
• Bärenpost
• Medical Hub
• bytes4diabetes
• GlucoMen Day CGM

Products and services

• Prescription Pharmaceuticals Prescription pharmaceutical products covering respiratory diseases (asthma, COPD, allergies), diabetes, cardiovascular conditions (hypertension, angina pectoris), skin disorders (shingles), thyroid diseases, gout, and chronic insomnia. Distributed to physicians, pharmacies, and health insurance funds.
• Consumer Healthcare

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 million packages of finished pharmaceuticals manufactured annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• VisualDxminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration with VisualDx to aid in identifying people who may have Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN). Supports diagnosis of this rare blood cancer.
• ERBC and Menarini BiotechminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Joint forces to accelerate the development of biopharmaceuticals from research to first-in-human clinical trials.
• Venatorx PharmaceuticalscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Commercial agreement for Cefepime-Taniborbactam in 96 countries. Menarini Group to commercialize this antibiotic combination product across its network.
• Insilico MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Global exclusive license agreement for a novel KAT6 inhibitor for potential breast cancer treatment and other oncology indications. Second AI-discovered preclinical asset partnership with Insilico Medicine targeting high unmet needs in oncology.
• 1. FC Union BerlinminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Berlin-Chemie is an Iron Sponsor of 1. FC Union Berlin from the 2024/25 season, supporting both men's and women's Bundesliga teams.
• NewAmsterdam PharmacoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Licensing deal to commercialize Obicetrapib in Europe. NewAmsterdam Pharma granted Menarini Group rights for European commercialization of this cardiovascular treatment.
• QuantuMDxminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Exclusive distribution agreement for the Q-POC platform by Menarini Group. Point-of-care molecular diagnostics.
• BoditechminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Exclusive distribution agreement for Boditech's AFIAS-10 system by Menarini Group. Point-of-care diagnostic platform.
• KaryopharmcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Exclusive license agreement to commercialize NEXPOVIO (selinexor) in Europe and other key global territories. Menarini received full marketing authorization from European Commission for multiple myeloma treatment.
• Stemline TherapeuticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Menarini Group acquired Stemline Therapeutics for up to $677 million. Stemline, a US biotech, received FDA approval for ORSERDU (elacestrant), the first and only treatment specifically indicated for patients with ESR1 mutations in metastatic breast cancer.
• Radius HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Global license agreement for the development and commercialization of Elacestrant. Menarini Group and Radius Health collaborated on the EMERALD Phase 3 trial. Menarini acquired full rights following Stemline acquisition.
• SelvitaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Global license agreement for SEL24 (PIM/FLT3 inhibitor) for oncology. Menarini Group licensed this clinical-stage oncology drug from Selvita.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gedeon Richter Plc. Hungarian-headquartered pharmaceutical company with branded specialty and generic franchises across CEE, CIS, and Western Europe. Comparable as a CEE-headquartered pharma peer with similar geographic footprint, multi-therapeutic portfolio, and CNS/cardiovascular focus.
• Stada Arzneimittel AG: German-headquartered pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of branded specialty, generics, and consumer health products across Europe. Highly comparable to Berlin-Chemie as a similarly-sized privately-held German pharma with multi-therapeutic area coverage and European distribution footprint.
• Almirall S.A. Spanish-headquartered specialty pharmaceutical company focused on dermatology and respiratory products. Comparable to Berlin-Chemie as a European specialty pharma peer with overlapping respiratory franchise (Berlin-Chemie holds Aclidinium license from Almirall) and similar size.
• KRKA, d.d., Novo mesto: Slovenian-headquartered generic and specialty pharmaceutical company with strong CEE and CIS regional presence. Comparable to Berlin-Chemie as a CEE-rooted pharma company with similar therapeutic breadth (cardiovascular, diabetes, respiratory) and regional distribution depth.

Broad incumbents

• Boehringer Ingelheim: Privately-held German pharmaceutical major with leading respiratory (COPD/asthma) franchise and cardiovascular pipeline. Comparable as a privately-owned German pharma peer with overlapping respiratory and cardiometabolic portfolios and similar European commercial scale.
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Global generics and specialty pharmaceutical major with significant respiratory franchise (ProAir, Spiriva competitors). Comparable as a broad-spectrum pharmaceutical company with overlapping respiratory, CNS, and cardiovascular portfolios.
• Bayer AG (Pharmaceuticals Division): German global pharmaceutical major with significant cardiovascular and consumer health franchises. Comparable as a Germany-headquartered pharma incumbent operating across similar therapeutic areas and distribution channels, though at materially larger scale.

Others

• Menarini Group: Italian-headquartered private pharmaceutical group and parent company of Berlin-Chemie since 1992. Listed as a peer for completeness given that Berlin-Chemie is functionally the CEE/CIS arm and largest production site of Menarini's global operations.

Regional players

• Polpharma Group: Polish-headquartered pharmaceutical manufacturer with leading CEE presence in generics, OTC, and prescription pharmaceuticals. Comparable to Berlin-Chemie in serving the same CEE regional customer base with overlapping therapeutic categories.
• Zentiva Group: Czech-headquartered European generics and specialty pharmaceutical company serving primarily CEE and EU markets. Comparable as a CEE-rooted pharma competitor with similar multi-therapeutic portfolio and regional commercial model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@berlin-chemie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berlinchemie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Berlin-chemie Ag