VivaCell Biotechnology GmbH

VivaCell Biotechnology GmbH is a privately owned German contract research organisation (CRO) based in Freiburg. It specialises in in vitro and ex vivo research services that help clients demonstrate the health benefits of their products across pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals for humans and animals, natural products, cosmetics, oral care, food and beverages, and botanicals. The company describes itself as offering complete research projects from basic R&D up to pre-clinical research (GLP) under one roof, so clients do not have to gather data from multiple CROs. VivaCell's service portfolio is organised around specialised biological models and protocols. These include dermato-cosmetic services for testing ingredients, formulations and end products in areas such as anti-aging, skin protection, skin comfort, skin regeneration, immunocosmetic and anti-acne applications; oral care models for toothpaste and mouthwash aimed at preventing or treating gingivitis; cannabis and cannabinoid research; overactive bladder and menopause research platforms; phytodrug and nutraceutical research with experience in botanicals such as St. John's wort (Hypericum), Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum) and feverfew (Tanacetum); probiotic research; immunomodulation; metabolic diseases; and animal health. Additional services for marketing studies are also offered. The company is led by two CEOs. Bernd L. Fiebich, Ph.D., is CEO and co-founder and an expert in immunology and inflammatory diseases, with a focus on natural products and the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of phytomedicines. Kurt Appel, Ph.D., has been CEO of VivaCell Biotechnology GmbH since 2001 and specialises in safety aspects of natural products. Since the beginning of 2025, VivaCell has been part of the CDMO (Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization) group 1Q Health GmbH. The company announced in April 2025 that it had joined the 1Q Health Group, describing it as a new chapter. VivaCell is also active in publicly funded research consortia, including the Novobiome project consortium, which received Eureka Eurostars funding (E!11342), and the interdisciplinary ASPIRANT research project. The company has also engaged in local sponsorship, becoming a team sponsor of SC Freiburg.

VivaCell Biotechnology GmbH is a German contract research organisation based in Freiburg. Kurt Appel, Ph.D., has served as CEO of the company since 2001, and Bernd L. Fiebich, Ph.D., is CEO and co-founder. Fiebich is described as an internationally leading scientist in the field of inflammation, with more than 170 research impact papers and an h-factor of 53, and has worked for many years on natural products, especially the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of phytomedicines such as Harpagophytum. He established a variety of cellular models of pain and inflammation and has guided many projects in drug and extract development. Over the years VivaCell built a portfolio of specialised in vitro and ex vivo models and protocols for proving the health benefits of personal care products, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, probiotics, natural products, food and beverages, and botanicals. The company positions itself as able to offer complete research projects from basic R&D up to pre-clinical research (GLP) in one hand, so that clients do not have to gather research data from various CROs. Its service areas have expanded to include dermato-cosmetic services, oral care, cannabis and cannabinoid research, overactive bladder and menopause research platforms, phytodrug and nutraceutical research, probiotic research, immunomodulation, metabolic diseases, and animal health, along with additional services for marketing studies. VivaCell has participated in publicly funded research collaborations. It is a partner in the interdisciplinary research project ASPIRANT, and it is part of the Novobiome project consortium, which was granted Eureka Eurostars funding (E!11342). The company has also published research, including work on omega-3-based nutraceuticals suppressing LPS-induced inflammatory responses in primary human monocytes; on Cimicifuga racemosa extract Ze 450 shifting macrophage immunometabolism and attenuating pro-inflammatory signaling; on the immunosuppressive activity of non-psychoactive Cannabis sativa L. extract on human T lymphocytes; and on (+)-trans-cannabidiol-2-hydroxy pentyl as a dual CB1R antagonist/CB2R agonist preventing diabetic nephropathy in mice. A major turning point came in 2025. Since the beginning of 2025 VivaCell has been part of the CDMO (Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization) group 1Q Health GmbH. In April 2025 the company announced that it had joined the 1Q Health Group, describing it as a new chapter. The company also became a team sponsor of SC Freiburg, reflecting its local ties in the Freiburg region.

• 2025

  Since the beginning of 2025 VivaCell is part of the CDMO group 1Q Health GmbH.

• 2025

  In April 2025 VivaCell joins the 1Q Health Group.

• 2020

  VivaCell is a partner in the interdisciplinary research project ASPIRANT, announced around the German Science Year 2020 Bioeconomy.

• 2001

  Kurt Appel becomes CEO of VivaCell Biotechnology GmbH.

Specialised contract research organisation offering complete in vitro and ex vivo preclinical research projects from basic R&D to GLP under one roof.

• Dermato-cosmetic services

  Specialised in vitro models and assays for testing and developing ingredients, formulations and end products for the cosmetic, dermato-cosmetic, hair, personal and oral care market, covering anti-aging, beauty/aesthetic, skin protection, skin comfort, skin regeneration, immunocosmetic, oral care and anti-acne topics.

• Oral care models

  Highly specialised and reliable models for testing oral care products such as toothpaste and mouthwash for their potential to prevent or treat gingivitis.

• Cannabis and cannabinoid research

  Research services in the field of cannabis and cannabinoids.

• Overactive bladder platform

  A platform to analyse and develop products to treat overactive bladder, with several objectives/tasks designed to study product effects on relevant parameters.

• Menopause research platform

  A platform to analyse and develop products to treat menopause symptoms, with several objectives/tasks designed to study product effects on relevant parameters.

• Phytodrugs / Nutraceuticals research

  Broad experience and expertise in phytodrug research with natural products used as phytodrugs or nutraceuticals for several indications, including St. John's wort (Hypericum), Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum) and feverfew (Tanacetum).

• Probiotic research

  All VivaCell models are also offered for probiotic research, with a special protocol developed to test the bioactivity of probiotics.

• Immunomodulation

  Research services in immunomodulation.

• Metabolic diseases

  Research services in metabolic diseases.

• Animal health

  Research services in animal health.

1. 1vivacell Biotechnolgy GmbH – Member of 1Q Healthvivacell.de
2. 2Company Profile | vivacell Biotechnolgy GmbH – Member of 1Q Healthvivacell.de
3. 3Services | vivacell Biotechnolgy GmbH – Member of 1Q Healthvivacell.de
4. 4Dermato-cosmetic services | vivacell Biotechnolgy GmbH – Member of 1Q Healthvivacell.de
5. 5VivaCell Biotechnology GmbHwikidata.org