Imagine needing a remedy for a skin condition. Almirall in Reinbek near Hamburg might just hold the solution.
Almirall Hermal GmbH is the German branch of Almirall. Almirall is an international pharmaceutical company. It focuses on research. The company headquarters are in Barcelona, Spain. Almirall is a global player. It dedicates itself to innovative medicines.
But how did Almirall begin its journey in Germany?
Back in 1945, Kurt Herrmann a merchant founded Hermal-Fabrik Kurt Herrmann in Magdeburg. The company faced expropriation in 1953 in East Germany. Herrmann relocated to Hamburg. There, he re-established Hermal-Chemie Kurt Herrmann. His focus was clear. He wanted to develop treatments for skin and mucosal diseases.
In 1960, the small firm settled in Reinbek. At that time Hermal had nine employees. Its annual turnover was 350000 D-Mark. Kurt Herrmann expanded the company. Hermal-Chemie grew rapidly. By the 1970s, it was the second-largest pharmaceutical company in Schleswig-Holstein. It became a leading dermatology company in Germany. Allergology and virology became new product areas.
The company expanded further. In 1977, Hermal built a new headquarters. It was located in the Glinde Reinbek Schöningstedt industrial area. The site was on Scholtzstrasse. The company expanded several times. New buildings were added especially for research, development and production.
Internationally, Herrmann established a second plant in Vienna Austria in 1967. In 1976, Hermal Pharmaceutical Laboratories opened in Oak Hill, New York USA. Both subsidiaries employed around 110 people. In 1969, Ernst Merck AG became a partner. This provided needed capital.
Kurt Herrmann passed away in 1986. Merck AG acquired the company. In 1997, Merck divested its dermatology division. Hermal was sold to Boots Healthcare International. In 2005, Reckitt Benckiser PLC acquired the company. Almirall S.A. purchased Hermal for 375 million euros in 2007.
Almirall invested heavily in its Reinbek facility. In 2014, the production plant for semi-solid and liquid drugs was expanded. This doubled manufacturing capacity. At that time, about one-third of the 360 employees worked in development and production.
Almirall Hermal GmbH develops produces and markets its own drugs. It also handles licensed products. As a center of excellence for dermatology, it is a key partner in the field. For over 60 years, Almirall has offered solutions in dermatology.
Almirall remains dedicated to research and development. In 2012, over 23% of net sales were invested in R&D. The company focuses on respiratory, autoimmune, skin and gastrointestinal diseases. Almirall has two research centers in Germany. Reinbek focuses on dermatology. Bad Homburg specializes in inhalation technology.
Almirall products are sold in over 70 countries. The company has subsidiaries in 12 European countries, Canada, and Mexico.
So the next time you seek advanced dermatological solutions remember Almirall’s journey. From humble beginnings to a global presence. Almirall continues to innovate and provide essential medicines.