Bionorica SE

Bionorica SE is a German, family-owned manufacturer of herbal medicines (phytopharmaceuticals) headquartered in Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz. Founded in 1933 in Nuremberg by Josef Popp, the company has been led since 1989 by his grandson, Professor Dr. Michael A. Popp, who is also the current owner and chairman of the management board. Bionorica describes itself as one of the world's leading manufacturers of phytopharmaceuticals and has production in Germany, employing more than 2,300 people worldwide. Its stated vision is to raise awareness of the value and efficacy of herbal medicines and to make modern medicine "a little more herbal every day." The company develops and produces what it calls "rational phytotherapeutics" — herbal medicines that combine high efficacy with good tolerability — using a proprietary approach it brands "Phytoneering." Its portfolio covers respiratory, gynecological, urinary and liver-protection indications, and includes well-known brands such as Sinupret, Bronchipret, Imupret N (formerly Tonsilgon), Tonsipret, Rinupret, Canephron, Silimarit, Agnucaston, Klimadynon and Mastodynon. Bionorica markets these products primarily through pharmacies in Germany and in numerous international markets. Bionorica is a mid-sized, privately held company. It was converted from a German stock corporation (AG) into a European Company (SE) in March 2010. According to its own figures, the company generated worldwide revenue of 514 million euros and employed more than 2,300 people; its workforce in Germany includes employees from 20 nations, and 65% of staff are women. Wikipedia data for earlier periods reported 1,823 employees worldwide in December 2020 and net revenue of 285 million euros in fiscal year 2021. Beyond its core herbal-medicine business, Bionorica briefly held a leading position in cannabis active ingredients such as dronabinol and cannabidiol, but sold its cannabis business to Canadian company Canopy Growth Corporation in May 2019 for 225 million euros. In 2023 its German subsidiary Lomapharm was acquired by Daicel. The company has also faced legal limits on advertising claims: in 2020 Germany's Federal Court of Justice (BGH) ruled that describing Sinupret as "antiviral" and "anti-inflammatory" was misleading because those effects were demonstrated only in vitro, not in clinical trials.

Bionorica was founded in 1933 in Nuremberg by Josef Popp, a trained engineer and grandfather of the current owner, Professor Dr. Michael A. Popp. Among the company's first products was Sinupret, which remains one of the most important preparations in its portfolio today. In 1945, the pharmacist Erna Popp (1918–2017) and the physician Hans-Oskar Popp (1924–2017) took over the management of the company; at this time the industrial production of the preparations was also established. After the company moved to Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, Michael A. Popp took over the leadership of Bionorica AG in 1989. In March 2010, Bionorica AG was converted into a European Company (Societas Europaea), becoming Bionorica SE. Under Michael A. Popp, the company pursued a strategy of systematic scientific research into its herbal products, aiming to place them on a par with conventional "school medicine" drugs. Bionorica describes itself as one of the world's leading manufacturers of phytopharmaceuticals and uses the term "Phytoneering" for its development and production approach. Its portfolio spans the indications of respiratory tract, gynecology, urinary tract and liver protection, marketed under brands such as Sinupret, Bronchipret, Imupret N (formerly Tonsilgon), Tonsipret, Rinupret, Canephron, Silimarit, Agnucaston, Klimadynon and Mastodynon. In 2015 Bionorica stated it would discontinue marketing of the willow bark preparation Assalix, and marketing of the sedative Allunapret was given up in 2019. Bionorica also entered the cannabis sector. According to its own statements, by March 2016 it held a leading position in the production of cannabis active ingredients such as dronabinol and cannabidiol. In May 2019, Bionorica sold its cannabis business to the Canadian company Canopy Growth Corporation for 225 million euros. In 2023, the German subsidiary Lomapharm was acquired by Daicel. In 2020, Germany's Federal Court of Justice (BGH) ruled in a final-instance decision that Bionorica's advertising of Sinupret with the properties "antiviral" and "anti-inflammatory" was misleading. The court held that these effects had been demonstrated only in vitro, not through clinical studies. The company is a member of the Bundesverband der Pharmazeutischen Industrie (German Pharmaceutical Industry Association), the Komitee Forschung Naturmedizin (Research Committee for Natural Medicine), the Gesellschaft für Arzneipflanzenforschung (Society for Medicinal Plant Research) and Europharm SMC. As of the mid-2020s, Bionorica reported more than 2,300 employees worldwide, production in Germany, and worldwide revenue of 514 million euros. Its workforce in Germany includes employees from 20 nations, and 65% of the workforce is female. The company has received employer awards, including being ranked 6th among Europe's best employers in July 2026 and receiving gold certification from AOK Bayern in August 2026 as the first company in Neumarkt to reach the highest level of the "Healthy Company" certification. In September 2026 it was again recognized by pharmacies as the best phyto manufacturer.

• 2026

  Ranked 6th among Europe's best employers (July); receives AOK Bayern gold certification (August); again named best phyto manufacturer (September).

• 2023

  German subsidiary Lomapharm acquired by Daicel.

• 2020

  German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) rules Sinupret advertising claims "antiviral" and "anti-inflammatory" misleading.

• 2019

  Cannabis business sold to Canopy Growth Corporation for 225 million euros in May; marketing of Allunapret given up.

• 2016

  By March, Bionorica reports a leading position in cannabis active ingredients (dronabinol, cannabidiol).

• 2015

  Bionorica announces discontinuation of marketing for Assalix.

• 2010

  Bionorica AG converted into Bionorica SE (European Company) in March.

• 1989

  Michael A. Popp takes over leadership of Bionorica AG.

• 1945

  Erna Popp and Hans-Oskar Popp take over management; industrial production established.

• 1933

  Bionorica founded in Nuremberg by Josef Popp.

Leading manufacturer of scientifically researched herbal medicines (rational phytotherapeutics), combining tradition and innovation; family-owned, German production, pharmacy-channel focus.

• Sinupret

  Herbal preparation for respiratory indications; one of the company's first and most important products.

• Bronchipret

  Herbal medicine for respiratory indications.

• Imupret N (formerly Tonsilgon)

  Herbal medicine.

• Tonsipret

  Herbal medicine.

• Rinupret

  Herbal medicine.

• Canephron

  Herbal medicine for urinary tract indications.

• Silimarit

  Herbal medicine for liver protection.

• Agnucaston

  Herbal medicine for gynecological indications.

• Klimadynon

  Herbal medicine for gynecological indications.

• Mastodynon

  Herbal medicine for gynecological indications.

1. 1Die Natur mit anderen Augen sehen | Bionoricabionorica.de
2. 2Über uns | Bionoricabionorica.de
3. 3Zahlen und Fakten | Bionoricabionorica.de
4. 4Auszeichnungen als Arbeitgeber | Bionoricabionorica.de
5. 5Bionorica SEwikidata.org
6. 6Bionoricade.wikipedia.org