The pharmaceutical contract manufacturing industry in DACH plays a critical role in the drug development process. It involves companies that provide manufacturing services for pharmaceuticals, including biologics and generic medicines. These companies not only produce drugs but also offer specialized services like formulation development, packaging, and quality control. With increasing demands for customized pharmaceuticals and the rapid evolution of technology, the industry is expected to witness significant growth. Regulatory complexities and the rise of precision medicine are driving innovation, catering to emerging health trends and unmet medical needs, thus shaping the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing in the region.


This article profiles 14 key investors active in the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing sector within the DACH region. They vary in type, including corporate, private equity, and venture capital firms. Headquartered across Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, these investors range from established behemoths like Novartis to innovative firms such as Verve Ventures. Founded between 1993 and 2010, their 2024 deal counts reflect a strong commitment to investing in pharmaceuticals, highlighting a dynamic investment environment.


Top 14 Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Investors in DACH


1. Novartis

  • Website: novartis.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Basel, Basel, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 1996
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 7
  • LinkedIn: novartis

Novartis AG, founded in 1996 and based in Basel, Switzerland, is a leading pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and manufacturing innovative medicines that address serious diseases. With a workforce of over 10,000 employees, Novartis emphasizes research and development to improve patient outcomes across various therapeutic areas. Notably, Novartis has been involved in significant transactions that highlight its commitment to pharmaceutical manufacturing. For instance, in 2000, Novartis acquired the European generics business of BASF Pharma for 115 million euros, expanding its manufacturing capabilities in the generics market across six European countries. This acquisition reflects Novartis's strategy to enhance its manufacturing footprint and product offerings in the pharmaceutical sector. Additionally, their involvement in funding rounds for companies like Rani Therapeutics, which focuses on innovative drug delivery systems, further demonstrates their interest in advancing pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies. Overall, Novartis's activities underscore its integral role in the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing landscape.


2. Evotec

  • Website: evotec.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
  • Founded year: 1993
  • Headcount: 5001-10000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: evotec

Evotec SE is a biotechnology company based in Hamburg, Germany, founded in 1993. The company specializes in drug discovery and development, collaborating with pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms to provide a comprehensive range of services from discovery to manufacturing. Notably, Evotec has made significant acquisitions to bolster its capabilities in the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing space. In 2017, they acquired Aptuit LLC for $300 million, enhancing their service offerings in the respiratory and fibrosis therapeutic areas. In 2019, they acquired Just Biotherapeutics for $90 million, which aimed to strengthen their biologics manufacturing capabilities. Additionally, their acquisition of Renovis for $152 million in 2007 further expanded their drug discovery pipeline. These strategic moves underscore Evotec's commitment to addressing unmet medical needs and improving the efficiency of bringing new therapeutics to market, positioning them as a relevant player in the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing industry.


3. HBM Partners AG


HBM Partners AG is an investment management firm based in Zug, Switzerland, specializing in healthcare investments. Founded in 2001, the firm focuses on venture, growth, and buy-out financing for private companies, as well as public company investments in the biopharma, medtech, diagnostics, and healthcare sectors. HBM Partners serves institutional and professional clients, providing capital and strategic support to enhance value creation. Notable transactions include a $57 million Series A investment in Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corp, which operates in the biopharma space, and a Series B investment in Aculys Pharma, which raised approximately $22.9 million for its sleep disorder candidate. These investments highlight HBM's commitment to supporting innovative healthcare companies, some of which may engage in pharmaceutical contract manufacturing as part of their development and commercialization processes.


4. Wellington Partners


Wellington Partners is a Munich-based venture capital firm founded in 1998, specializing in life sciences. The firm focuses on early- and growth-stage companies, providing both capital and strategic support to entrepreneurs in sectors such as therapeutics and medical devices. Notable transactions include their investment in NEUWAY Pharma, which raised funds for the development of innovative therapeutics for orphan brain diseases, and their participation as a cornerstone investor in 4SC AG, which is advancing clinical development for cancer treatments. These investments highlight Wellington Partners' commitment to supporting innovative companies within the pharmaceutical industry, making them a significant player in the life sciences investment space.


5. Brenntag

  • Website: brenntag.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
  • Founded year: 1874
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 8
  • LinkedIn: brenntag

Brenntag SE, founded in 1874 and headquartered in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is a leading global chemical distributor that connects chemical manufacturers with users across various industries, including pharmaceuticals. With over 10,000 employees and a customer base of approximately 195,000, Brenntag provides a wide range of specialty and industrial chemicals along with value-added services. Notably, Brenntag has made strategic acquisitions to enhance its position in the pharmaceutical sector, including the acquisition of PharmaSpecial in August 2024, which underscores their commitment to expanding their pharmaceutical offerings. Additionally, their acquisition of Leis Polytechnik and ACU PHARMA und CHEMIE in 2016, along with other chemical distributors, reflects their strategy to strengthen their supply chain capabilities in the pharmaceutical industry. These transactions highlight Brenntag's active role in the pharmaceutical supply chain, making them a relevant investor in the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing space.


6. Verve Ventures

  • Website: verve.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 25
  • LinkedIn: investiere-venture-capital

Verve Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Zurich, Switzerland, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in deep tech investments across Europe, providing funding and strategic support to science and technology startups. Their investment focus includes sectors such as climate tech, industrial technology, and health & bio, catering primarily to entrepreneurs and innovative companies seeking investment. Notable transactions include investments in PathoQuest, which raised $17,391,748 in a Series B round, and InterAx Biotech, a spin-off from ETH Zürich, indicating their engagement in the health and biotechnology sectors. These investments highlight their commitment to supporting companies that may play a role in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing.


7. Bayern Kapital

  • Website: bayernkapital.de
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Landshut, Bavaria, Germany
  • Founded year: 1995
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 27
  • LinkedIn: bayern-kapital-gmbh

Bayern Kapital is a venture capital firm based in Landshut, Bavaria, Germany, founded in 1995. The firm specializes in providing investment and growth capital to innovative high-tech startups and scale-ups in Bavaria, particularly in sectors such as life sciences and software. Bayern Kapital supports its clients with financial resources and access to a network of industry experts, helping them navigate the challenges of growth and development. Notably, they have participated in significant funding rounds for companies like Tubulis, which focuses on developing a new class of antibody-drug conjugates, and Immunic AG, which is involved in the pharmaceutical sector. Their investments in these companies highlight their engagement in the life sciences, making them a relevant player in the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing landscape.


8. Roche

  • Website: roche.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Switzerland
  • Founded year: 1896
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 5
  • LinkedIn: roche

F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG is a healthcare company based in Switzerland, founded in 1896. It specializes in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, developing innovative solutions for various health conditions, with a strong focus on cancer treatments and in-vitro diagnostics. Roche aims to improve health outcomes through its comprehensive offerings to healthcare providers, patients, and laboratories. The company has made several strategic acquisitions to enhance its pharmaceutical capabilities, including Roche Glycart in 2005, Marcadia Biotech in 2010, and Tensha Therapeutics in 2016, which collectively reflect its commitment to advancing drug development. Most recently, Roche acquired Telavant for $7.1 billion in 2023, further solidifying its position in the pharmaceutical landscape. While Roche's primary focus is not explicitly on contract manufacturing, their extensive involvement in the pharmaceutical sector suggests they may engage in contract manufacturing as part of their operations.


9. SHS Capital


SHS Gesellschaft für Beteiligungsmanagement mbH, commonly known as SHS Capital, is a private equity firm based in Germany, founded in 1993. The firm specializes in healthcare investments, providing capital and strategic support to fast-growing healthcare companies. SHS Capital focuses on enhancing the operations of its clients, which primarily include businesses in the healthcare sector. Notably, SHS Capital has been involved in several significant transactions, including the acquisition of CAM Bioceramics, a contract development and manufacturing organization that specializes in orthobiological calcium phosphate solutions. This investment highlights SHS Capital's commitment to the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing industry. Additionally, they have participated in various funding rounds for companies like Develco Pharma Schweiz and Single Use Support, further showcasing their active role in the healthcare investment landscape.


10. Debiopharm


Debiopharm is a biopharmaceutical company based in Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland, founded in 1979. The company focuses on developing and manufacturing innovative therapies for high unmet medical needs, particularly in cancer and infectious diseases. Debiopharm partners with academic and pharmaceutical institutions to bridge the gap between drug discovery and patient access. In recent years, they have participated in several funding rounds that highlight their commitment to advancing pharmaceutical innovations. For instance, they were involved in the Series A funding for ABAC Therapeutics, which aims to develop pathogen-specific antibiotics, showcasing their interest in therapeutic advancements that may require contract manufacturing capabilities. Additionally, their investment in Iktos, a company specializing in AI for drug discovery, and VeriSIM Life, which focuses on virtual drug development, further illustrates their engagement in the pharmaceutical sector, including aspects related to manufacturing and development.


11. redalpine


Redalpine is a venture capital firm based in Zurich, Switzerland, founded in 2006. The firm specializes in investing in technology and science sectors, providing funding and strategic support to startups, particularly in areas like AI, health tech, and energy. Redalpine has been involved in several relevant transactions in the pharmaceutical and biotech space, including TOLREMO therapeutics, which raised CHF 9.0 million in a Series A financing round, and Araris Biotech, which has secured multiple rounds of funding to advance its antibody-drug conjugate technology. These investments highlight Redalpine's commitment to supporting innovative companies that address significant challenges in health and pharmaceuticals, positioning them as a relevant player in the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing landscape.


12. b2venture

  • Website: b2venture.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 2000
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 15
  • LinkedIn: btovpartners

b2venture is a venture capital firm based in St. Gallen, Switzerland, founded in 2000. The firm specializes in early-stage investments in innovative startups across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals. They provide financial backing and support to entrepreneurs, helping them navigate challenges and scale their businesses. Notably, b2venture co-led a €6.5 million seed funding round for DUDE CHEM, a startup focused on securing the supply chain for a leading generic drug producer, highlighting their engagement in the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing space. Additionally, they have invested in Araris Biotech, which is advancing proprietary technologies for drug development, further emphasizing their involvement in the pharmaceutical sector. Their collaboration with a community of angel investors enhances their investment strategy, making them a key player in the European venture capital landscape.


13. BlueYard Capital

  • Website: blueyard.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Founded year: 2016
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 9
  • LinkedIn: blueyard-capital

BlueYard Capital is a venture capital firm based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2016. The firm specializes in early-stage investments across various innovative sectors, including cryptocurrency, biotechnology, and engineering. BlueYard Capital supports entrepreneurs by providing funding and resources to develop groundbreaking technologies that address significant global challenges. Notably, they have invested in Sensible Biotechnologies, which raised $4.2 million for its cell-based platform aimed at cost-efficient mRNA manufacturing, highlighting their engagement in the biotechnology space relevant to pharmaceutical contract manufacturing. Additionally, their portfolio includes other life science ventures, indicating a commitment to advancing scientific research and innovative manufacturing solutions.


14. Schroders Capital


Schroders Capital is an investment management firm based in Zurich, Switzerland, founded in 1997. It specializes in private assets, offering a diverse range of services including private equity, real estate, private debt, and infrastructure investments. The firm serves institutional investors and organizations, providing tailored solutions to effectively integrate private assets into their portfolios. Notably, Schroders Capital has participated in significant funding rounds for biotechnology companies such as Decibel Therapeutics, which raised $55M in Series C financing to advance its hearing drug discovery platform, and ImmunOs Therapeutics, which closed a $74M Series B financing round aimed at clinical development of its immunotherapy programs. These transactions highlight Schroders Capital's engagement in the pharmaceutical sector, particularly in supporting companies that may utilize contract manufacturing services for their drug development processes.



Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Insights: Key Investors in DACH


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
NovartisBasel, Basel, Switzerland10001+19967
EvotecHamburg, Hamburg, Germany5001-1000019933
HBM Partners AGZug, Zug, Switzerland11-5020010
Wellington PartnersMunich, Bavaria, Germany11-5019989
BrenntagEssen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany10001+18748
Verve VenturesZurich, Zurich, Switzerland11-50201025
Bayern KapitalLandshut, Bavaria, Germany11-50199527
RocheSwitzerland10001+18965
SHS CapitalGermany11-5019932
DebiopharmLausanne, Vaud, Switzerland201-50019794
redalpineZurich, Zurich, Switzerland11-50200618
b2ventureSt. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland11-50200015
BlueYard CapitalBerlin, Berlin, Germany1-1020169
Schroders CapitalZurich, Zurich, Switzerland51-20019970


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