MEDICE Arzneimittel Pütter GmbH & Co. KG

MEDICE Arzneimittel Pütter GmbH & Co. KG, commonly branded MEDICE, is a mid-sized German manufacturer of pharmaceuticals and medical devices headquartered in Iserlohn, North Rhine-Westphalia. Founded in 1949 by Gustav Pütter as a chemical-pharmaceutical factory, the company has remained family-owned and is now led by the third generation. It develops and produces at its Iserlohn site and at Salzgitter-Ringelheim through its subsidiary Schaper & Brümmer. MEDICE markets around 100 medicines and medical devices internationally, including generics, biosimilars and proprietary developments that often involve improved galenics such as sustained-release formulations of approved drugs. In Germany, MEDICE is particularly associated with the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) through its Medikinet and Medikinet adult brands, and with non-prescription self-medication products such as the homeopathic cold remedy Meditonsin and the medicinal yeast probiotic Perenterol. The company also markets Circadin, a melatonin product for sleep disorders, Alflorex for irritable bowel syndrome, and Agakalin, an atomoxetine generic for ADHD. Its portfolio spans prescription medicines, OTC products, medical devices and, increasingly, digital health applications and nutrition concepts. Since around 2021, MEDICE has been transforming from a pure pharmaceutical manufacturer into a multimodal health company under the umbrella brand MEDICE – The Health Family. This strategy combines drug therapies, evidence-based digital treatments and nutrition concepts to support patients across the entire course of illness. The company acquired a 60% majority stake in Schaper & Brümmer in April 2021 and acquired the Berlin-based digital therapy provider Selfapy in March 2025. In fiscal year 2024, MEDICE generated revenue of around EUR 395 million and employed an average of just under 1,100 people. It operates through domestic subsidiaries including Eyelevel GmbH, Medice Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Humantis GmbH and Dentosafe, as well as international subsidiaries in Austria, Switzerland, Norway, the Netherlands and Russia.

MEDICE was founded in Iserlohn in Westphalia in 1949 as a chemical-pharmaceutical factory (Chemisch-pharmazeutische Fabrik GmbH) by Gustav Pütter (born 3 July 1907 in Grürmannsheide; died 30 June 1977 in Iserlohn). The founder had worked as a non-medical practitioner (Heilpraktiker) and invented the Pütter bandage. In its early years, the company manufactured and distributed preparations for skin conditions (such as Dermaethyl, a tar or acridine spray still used in the 1950s) and for digestive disorders and liver-bile metabolism. Later, more medicines were added, including acquisitions and in-licensing from other pharmaceutical companies. In 1953, the homeopathic cold remedy Meditonsin came onto the market. The vitamin B injection solution Medivitan, introduced in 1961, was complemented in 1995 by Medyn, a similar active-ingredient combination in tablet form. Since 2000, MEDICE has marketed the methylphenidate product Medikinet for the treatment of ADHD. In 1970, the founder's son Sigurd Pütter joined the company. After his father's death in 1977, he took over the leadership of MEDICE. In 2002, his daughter Katja Pütter (born 26 April 1967) took over the company's leadership in the third generation. Her husband Richard Ammer joined the management in 2003. With the proprietary development Medikinet retard, a product with delayed active-ingredient release came onto the market in 2005. On 1 April 2006, MEDICE acquired the over-the-counter (OTC) medicines business of the Rentschler Group, Dr. Rentschler Arzneimittel GmbH. Since 2011, Medikinet adult has been available, the first methylphenidate medicine approved in Germany for adults. In 2012, the company took over from UCB Pharma the license for the German distribution of the medicinal yeast product Perenterol. At the same time, Attentin was introduced, a reserve medication with dexamfetamine for use in treatment-resistant ADHD. In 2013, MEDICE took over the German distribution of Circadin, the only melatonin product approved in Germany for the treatment of sleep disorders. In 2018, Alflorex was added, a probiotic with Bifidobacterium infantis for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. In 2019, Agakalin was introduced, a generic with the active ingredient atomoxetine for ADHD treatment. In the same year, the company's newly constructed administration building in Iserlohn opened, designed by the Cologne architecture firm Molestina. In April 2021, MEDICE acquired a 60% majority stake in Schaper & Brümmer, a company founded in 1923 in Salzgitter and known for its phytotherapeutics. Around this time, the company also began its structural transformation from a pure pharmaceutical manufacturer into a multimodal health company. In addition to pharmaceutical manufacturing, it began accompanying patients throughout their entire disease course, including through nutrition concepts and digital health applications. These areas were bundled under the name MEDICE – The Health Family. This transformation, as well as the company's digitalization and sustainability measures, were publicly praised by then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who visited the company in September 2021. As part of the transformation, a new logo was introduced in 2022. In 2024, the company celebrated its 75th anniversary. In March 2025, MEDICE acquired the Berlin-based company Selfapy, founded in 2016, which offers digital therapy programs for depression, anxiety and eating disorders as well as chronic pain. In 2025, MEDICE expanded the Meditonsin brand with the herbal cold remedy Meditonsin Extract. MEDICE remains a mid-sized, family-owned pharmaceutical company in its third generation. The managing directors are Katja Pütter-Ammer, Richard Ammer, Uwe Baumann and Eric Neyret. The headquarters and most production facilities are in Iserlohn. In fiscal year 2024, the company generated revenue of around EUR 395 million and employed an average of just under 1,100 people. Wholly owned domestic subsidiaries include Eyelevel GmbH, Medice Pharma GmbH & Co. KG (Iserlohn), Humantis GmbH and Dentosafe Dentalforschungs- und Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH. Internationally, MEDICE operates through subsidiaries including Medice Arzneimittel GmbH (Vienna, Austria), Salmon Pharma (Basel, Switzerland), Medice Nordic Norway AS (Fredrikstad, Norway), Medice B.V. (Leiderdorp, Netherlands) and OOO Medice (Moscow, Russia).

• 2025

  MEDICE acquires Berlin-based digital therapy provider Selfapy; expands Meditonsin brand with Meditonsin Extract.

• 2024

  MEDICE celebrates its 75th anniversary.

• 2022

  New corporate logo introduced.

• 2021

  MEDICE acquires 60% majority stake in Schaper & Brümmer; begins transformation into a multimodal health company; Chancellor Angela Merkel visits in September.

• 2019

  Agakalin (atomoxetine generic for ADHD) introduced; new administration building opens in Iserlohn.

• 2018

  Alflorex, a probiotic for irritable bowel syndrome, added.

• 2013

  MEDICE takes over German distribution of Circadin, the only melatonin product approved in Germany for sleep disorders.

• 2012

  MEDICE takes over German distribution license for Perenterol from UCB Pharma; Attentin (dexamfetamine) introduced.

• 2011

  Medikinet adult, the first methylphenidate medicine approved in Germany for adults, becomes available.

• 2006

  MEDICE acquires the OTC medicines business of the Rentschler Group (Dr. Rentschler Arzneimittel GmbH).

• 2005

  Proprietary Medikinet retard with delayed release launched.

• 2003

  Richard Ammer joins the management board.

• 2002

  Katja Pütter takes over company leadership in the third generation.

• 2000

  MEDICE begins marketing Medikinet (methylphenidate) for ADHD.

• 1995

  Medyn, a tablet-form vitamin B combination, complements Medivitan.

• 1977

  After Gustav Pütter's death, Sigurd Pütter takes over leadership.

• 1970

  Sigurd Pütter, son of the founder, joins the company.

• 1961

  Vitamin B injection solution Medivitan introduced.

• 1953

  Homeopathic cold remedy Meditonsin launched.

• 1949

  MEDICE founded in Iserlohn by Gustav Pütter as a chemical-pharmaceutical factory.

Mid-sized, family-owned German pharmaceutical company evolving into a multimodal health-solutions provider under the MEDICE – The Health Family umbrella, combining medicines, digital treatments and nutrition.

• Medikinet

  Methylphenidate product for the treatment of ADHD, marketed since 2000.

• Medikinet retard

  Proprietary sustained-release methylphenidate formulation launched in 2005.

• Medikinet adult

  First methylphenidate medicine approved in Germany for adults, available since 2011.

• Meditonsin

  Homeopathic cold remedy launched in 1953.

• Meditonsin Extract

  Herbal cold preparation added to the Meditonsin brand in 2025.

• Perenterol

  Medicinal yeast probiotic; German distribution license taken over from UCB Pharma in 2012.

• Circadin

  The only melatonin product approved in Germany for sleep disorders; German distribution taken over in 2013.

• Alflorex

  Probiotic with Bifidobacterium infantis for irritable bowel syndrome, added in 2018.

• Agakalin

  Generic with atomoxetine for ADHD treatment, introduced in 2019.

• Attentin

  Reserve medication with dexamfetamine for treatment-resistant ADHD, introduced in 2012.

• Medivitan

  Vitamin B injection solution introduced in 1961.

• Medyn

  Vitamin B combination in tablet form, added in 1995.

• Let's take Care!

1. 1MEDICE Health Family Plattformmedice-health-family.com
2. 2MEDICE Arzneimittel Pütter GmbH & Co. KG – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Medice – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org