List of the 3 largest pharmaceutical companies for generics

Switzerland is world famous for its pharmaceutical industry. There are many different pharmaceutical companies all over Switzerland. As a result, there are also many manufacturers of generic drugs. In the following we present 3 of them. All 3 are part of our list of the 100 largest pharmaceutical companies in Switzerland.

1. Sandoz Pharmaceuticals AG, Basel: $9.7 billion in sales

Sandoz Pharmaceuticals is a subgroup of Novartis and bundles the generic activities of the pharmaceutical group. Sandoz has existed in this form since 2003, when the traditional Sandoz brand was reactivated. Novartis was created in 1996 from the merger of Ciba-Geigy and the old Sandoz Group. Both names disappeared from the market at that time. With the acquisition of the German Hexal AG and the US company Eon Labs in 2005, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals became one of the world’s largest generics manufacturers. In Germany, Sandoz is the market leader in generics. Well-known Sandoz brands include Hexal and 1A Pharma.

2. Acino International AG, Zurich: > CHF 450 million turnover

Acino was founded in 1836 on what is now the Schweizerhalle industrial site near Basel, when a salt deposit was discovered there. After only a few years, the company shifted its focus from salt production to chemical production. From there, a logical path led to today’s pharmaceutical and generics company Acino International. The company develops, produces and markets drugs under the name “Acino Switzerland” with a special focus on new dosage forms. The active ingredients are for the most part tried and tested and are also used in other preparations. However, the formulation differs and is even partially patented. Important sales markets are emerging countries.

3. Mepha Schweiz AG, Basel: CHF 313 million turnover

Mepha Switzerland is a pharmaceutical company founded in 1949. It is primarily active in the marketing of pharmaceutical products and is one of Switzerland’s leading distributors in this field. The product range comprises mainly generic and over-the-counter medicines. With a market share of more than one-third, Mepha Switzerland is the largest generic drug distributor in the country. Its customers are pharmacies, hospitals, doctors and drugstores. The generics portfolio covers 18 indication areas and includes around 230 branded and non-branded preparations. Mepha Switzerland employs around 150 people and is part of the Israeli pharmaceutical group Teva.

Picture Source: Unsplash ( Hal Gatewood, 14.12.21)

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