Krewel Meuselbach

Krewel Meuselbach is a German pharmaceutical company based in Eitorf near Cologne. It traces its origins to the early 20th century, when physician Ernst Georg Blank, pharmacist Klemens August Krewel and medical druggist Carl Leuffen developed and manufactured medicines such as the painkiller Analgit and the antiseptic Mallebrin. The business was incorporated as Chemische Fabrik Krewel-Leuffen GmbH in 1931 and later became known as Krewel-Werke. In 1991 it took over Meuselbach-Pharma, a Thuringian pharmaceutical firm with roots going back to 1694 and documented as a commercial operation since 1745. The gradual merger of the two businesses led to the formation of Krewel Meuselbach GmbH in 1996. The company is known for over-the-counter and prescription products including Aspecton, Hedelix, Mallebrin and the sedative Eusedon. It operated production sites in Eitorf and in Thuringia, with a newer plant in Gehren replacing the outdated Meuselbach facility in 1996. In 2019 Krewel Meuselbach sold its over-the-counter medicines business to Hermes Arzneimittel. In May 2024 the company filed for insolvency under self-administration, citing cost increases after the COVID-19 crisis and production disruptions in Russia and Ukraine due to the Russo-Ukrainian War, with its focus on Eastern European and Russian markets weighing on results. In November 2024 Dr. Theiss Naturwaren GmbH stepped in as an investor. The Eitorf main plant was closed in summer 2025, leaving only the Ilmenau production site in operation.

Krewel Meuselbach's history combines two German pharmaceutical traditions. The Krewel side began with pharmacist Klemens August Krewel, born in 1860, who ran a manufacturing operation in Cologne from 1893 and later produced the painkiller Analgit. In Eitorf, physician Ernst Georg Blank, born in 1892, had studied biology, chemistry and medicine and received his medical license in 1913. After working in the Eitorf hospital and researching medicines, he took over a medical practice in Eitorf in 1919. Together with medical druggist Carl Leuffen, Blank founded the firm Leuffen und Co. in 1922. Within three years more than three million bottles of Analgit were sold, and the product name became a common name for the company. In 1924 Mallebrin, an astringent and antiseptic used for gargling and wound treatment, became a second major success. The company bought land on Leienbergstraße and built Werk I, converted into a GmbH in 1928, and added Werk II at Bahnhofstraße corner Kreuzstraße. On 13 July 1931 the firm was renamed Chemische Fabrik Krewel-Leuffen GmbH. It expanded with branches in Mettmann and Munich and launched medicines such as Mediment and Kranit. In March 1945 the plant was almost completely destroyed by aerial bombs but was rebuilt under Ernst Blank's leadership. After Blank's death in 1957, his son-in-law, physician Josef Viefhues, led the company until his death in 1969; his widow Inge Viefhues then took over management. The Meuselbach side traces back to brothers Johann Balthasar and Johann Nicolai Lichtenheldt, who worked as laboratory technicians and "Olitäten" traders from 1694. Their enterprise became Meuselbach-Pharma in Thuringia, one of the oldest German pharmaceutical companies, first documented as a commercial operation in 1745. Around 1890 it employed 70 people; by 1926 its product range included 288 items, among them Regulaxier, today's Regulax. After the founding of the GDR, Meuselbach-Pharma was merged with other laboratory operations into VEB Pharmazeutisch-Chemische Fabrik Meuselbach. After German reunification, Krewel-Leuffen (formerly Krewel-Werke Eitorf near Cologne, trademark Krewel) took over Meuselbach-Pharma in 1991. The step-by-step merger of the two companies led in 1996 to the firm Krewel Meuselbach GmbH. The outdated production site in Meuselbach, Thuringia, was replaced by a new building in Gehren, 20 km away, in 1996. After Inge Viefhues died in 2011, the company was led by a supervisory board and an executor representing the heirs and capital side. Managing director Detlef Schierstedt, in office since 1997, left in 2013 and was succeeded by Thomas Quadt. In 2019 the company sold its over-the-counter medicines business to Hermes Arzneimittel. In May 2024 Krewel Meuselbach filed for insolvency under self-administration; managing director at the time was Torsten Förster. Background cited included increased costs after the COVID-19 crisis and production failures in Russia and Ukraine due to the Russo-Ukrainian War, with the company's focus on markets in Eastern Europe and Russia weighing on results. In November 2024 Dr. Theiss Naturwaren GmbH stepped in as an investor. In summer 2025 the Eitorf plant was closed, leaving only the Ilmenau production site in operation.

• 2025

  Eitorf plant closed in summer; only Ilmenau production site remains.

• 2024

  Insolvency filed under self-administration in May; Dr. Theiss Naturwaren invests in November.

• 2019

  OTC medicines business sold to Hermes Arzneimittel.

• 2013

  Detlef Schierstedt leaves; Thomas Quadt becomes managing director.

• 2011

  Inge Viefhues dies; company led by supervisory board and executor.

• 1997

  Detlef Schierstedt becomes managing director.

• 1996

  Krewel Meuselbach GmbH formed; new production site in Gehren replaces Meuselbach facility.

• 1991

  Krewel-Leuffen takes over Meuselbach-Pharma.

• 1969

  Josef Viefhues dies; widow Inge Viefhues takes over management.

• 1957

  Ernst Blank dies; son-in-law Josef Viefhues leads the company.

• 1945

  Plant almost completely destroyed by aerial bombs in March; rebuilt under Ernst Blank.

• 1931

  Renamed Chemische Fabrik Krewel-Leuffen GmbH on 13 July.

• 1928

  Company converted into a GmbH.

• 1924

  Mallebrin launched as a second major product.

• 1922

  Ernst Georg Blank and Carl Leuffen found Leuffen und Co. in Eitorf.

• 1893

  Klemens August Krewel's manufacturing operation established in Cologne.

• 1745

  Meuselbach-Pharma first documented as a commercial operation.

• 1694

  Brothers Johann Balthasar and Johann Nicolai Lichtenheldt begin work as laboratory technicians and Olitäten traders, origin of Meuselbach-Pharma.

Mid-sized German pharmaceutical manufacturer with a portfolio of established OTC and prescription brands, historically strong in Eastern European and Russian markets.

• Analgit

  Painkiller that was a major early success, with over three million bottles sold within three years.

• Mallebrin

  Astringent and antiseptic used for gargling and wound treatment, launched in 1924.

• Aspecton

  One of the company's known products.

• Hedelix

  One of the company's known products.

• Eusedon

  A neurosedative known product.

• Mediment

  A mild skin-irritant liniment for rubbing in.

• Kranit

  A medicine brought to market by the company.

• Regulax

  Laxative product, originally known as Regulaxier in the Meuselbach-Pharma range.

1. 1Krewel Meuselbach – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
2. 2Krewel Meuselbach – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Krewel Meuselbach official websitekrewelmeuselbach.de