HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY

The Pharmaceutical
Sector1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR

Summary
Germany is a major actor in the global healthcare
sector boasting a leading industry that develops,
produces and distributes high-quality, internationally acclaimed pharmaceutical products. The
pharmaceutical sector benefits from cutting-edge
research facilities, a long tradition in manufacturing and a highly diversified mix of large corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs). Together, they form a strong base andprovide the expertise necessary to meet the challenges of a changing global health market.

This is best exemplified not only by increasing
pharmaceutical export volumes, but also by thefact that the German pharmaceutical sector has
stepped up its efforts to tackle the continuing
global Covid-19 epidemic. Germany is one of thecountries with a particularly high number of initiatives for Covid-19 vaccines and has a leadingrole in global research for its treatment. Germany
is also among the world’s top five pharmaceuticalmanufacturing services locations.

EUR 42.5 bn
total revenue of German
pharmaceutical companies

500+

pharmaceutical companies are
situated in Germany

16.5%

EUR 87.7 bnof annual revenues are reinvested inresearch and development

export sales generated by German
pharmaceutical companies

800+

clinical trial applications by German
pharmaceutical companies1

1

all data from 2020

2

The Pharmaceutical Sector | health-made-in-germany.com

Market Data
Global demand for high-quality drugs is constantly rising due to a growing global population,
improved healthcare standards and strengthened
economies in developing countries. Approximately EUR 1 trillion had been spent on medicines in 2020 – up from just EUR 753 billion in2010. The sector is largely driven by innovation,a fact best demonstrated by the high numbers of
newly approved drugs in Europe. More than 400
new pharmaceutical entities – on average 37 peryear – have been authorized by the European
Medicines Agency of the European Union (EMA)
since 2006. According to the European Patent
Office (EPO) Patent Index 2019, the number ofpatent applications increased by 4.4 percent in
2018.
The German pharmaceutical sector provides abroad range of high-quality products and services to address growing international demand.
In 2020, German companies generated revenueof EUR 42.5 billion, making it the leading pharmaceutical market in Europe. Between 2017 and2020, export figures for German pharmaceuticalcompanies recorded an annual growth rate ofmore than 10 percent. German pharmaceuticalproducts are particularly sought after in the USA
and European countries. However, emerging markets, for example in Asia and Latin America, arealso registering increased demand.
More than 500 pharmaceutical companies – ofGerman origin and subsidiaries of multinational

Annual value of Germany‘s pharmaceuticals
exports from 2016 to 2020
in EUR billion

70.6

2016
Source: BPI (2021)

75.4

2017

83.1

2018

82.7

2019

87.7

2020

2020 European Pharmaceutical Market Top 5
in EUR billion

42.5
31.7

27.9
22.0

6.7
Germany

France

Italy

Spain

PolandSource: BPI (2021)

corporations – are based in Germany. These companies employed a workforce of around 120,000
in 2019 – mostly located around the cities ofHamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt (Main), andMunich. The German pharmaceutical sector isdominated by SMEs, with around 233 companies
having fewer than 20 members of staff. Germany
can look back on a long tradition as the “world’s
pharmacy” and even today ranks among theworld’s top five pharmaceutical production locations.
Major domestic pharmaceutical companies(including Bayer, BASF, Boehringer Ingelheim, andMerck) and numerous SMEs enjoy an excellent
international reputation in all of the relevant
pharmaceutical markets. This ranges from prescription to non-prescription medicines, frominnovative medicines to generics, from small
molecules to biologicals and advanced therapy
medicinal products (ATMPs). The sector also
benefits from the internationally strong chemical companies that are domiciled in Germany,
providing further manufacturing expertise andinfrastructure.
One of the industry’s key success factors is its
strong focus on research and development (R&D).
Total R&D spending increased significantly to
EUR 8.4 billion in 2019. When looking at thepharmaceuticals currently developed and set for
approval, the targeted indications are dominatedby cancer, inflammatory diseases and infectious
diseases including the treatment of Covid-19.

3

DIGITAL HEALTH AND PERSONALIZED MEDICINE

Industry Trends
High-quality Products for International
Markets
A steady increase in the quality of healthcare
across the globe, the establishment of healthinsurance systems in developing countries, andnew hospital infrastructures have all led to growing global demand for conventional pharmaceutical products.
German pharmaceutical companies are best
known to deliver high-quality production volumes
for many conventional pharmaceutical products
such as antibiotics, hormones, vitamins, and radiopaque materials. This has allowed them to establish themselves as attractive partners for many
countries around the globe.
The United States was the primary destination
for German pharmaceuticals exports in 2020, withan export value of over EUR 16.3 billion. While
the Netherlands and Switzerland were the second- and third-highest export destinations with
export values of EUR 8.3 billion and EUR 8.2 billion
respectively. In total, pharmaceutical exports from
Germany amounted to almost EUR 88 billion in
2020. Herbal medicines, innovative and prescription drugs are in particularly high demand.
Digital Healthcare Management
Technology-driven developments offer great
potential for more efficient research and development processes, with computer-based, highthroughput approaches facilitating improved big
data analyses. This increases the speed at which
new therapies and diagnostics go from lab tomarket.

German Export Volumes in Different Foreign
Markets (2020)
in EUR billion

16.3

8.3

USA

Netherlands

8.2

Switzerland

4.6

4.6

Italy

FranceSource: BPI (2021)

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The Pharmaceutical Sector | health-made-in-germany.com

German pharmaceutical companies are aware of
new digital solutions and actively promote cooperation with start-ups and smaller companies
from the biotechnology, medical technology andIT sectors. Most of the large German corporations
have founded special hubs and accelerators tobuild a platform for innovative IT-based healthcare solutions.

DIGITAL HEALTH SECTOR
A significant number ofcompanies in Germany
are developing digital
health solutions. Thispublication gives an
overview of the sector
and provides partner
links.

HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY

The Digital Health
Sector1

Other aspects of digitalization include the introduction of online and real-time monitoring inpharmaceutical production plants, connected
manufacturing processes, and increased automation of industrial value chains in the sector. With
its strong tradition of engineering and plant
construction and its expertise in pharmaceutical chemistry, Germany offers the perfect infrastructure for combining cost-efficient, IT-based
innovation with traditional high-quality manufacturing processes.
Another important advancement for the healthcare sector in Germany is the Digital HealthcareAct. This came into force in December 2019, making Germany the pioneer in the establishmentof the “medical prescription app” so that they
become part of routine healthcare provision andfostering innovation in digital health. From theofficial directory of the German Federal Institutefor Drugs and Medical Products (BfArM) it can beseen that from the start in September 2020 tomid-April 2021, twelve digital health applications
were listed, eight of them provisionally and four
permanently. Statutory health insurance (SHI)
accredited physicians and psychotherapists can
now prescribe these applications at the expenseof the statutory health insurers.

Personalized Medicine Focus
Innovation in the pharmaceutical sector islargely driven by technological advances madein molecular and cell biology. New technologies
and research tools based on these findings pave
the way for a better understanding of disorders
and permit new strategies for combating not
only symptoms but actual causes. Personalized
medicine has also emerged as a new trend fortargeted therapies.

According to the EMA, more than 70 percent of
the medicines for rare disorders in the EU originate from the laboratories of SMEs, and German
companies with their strong innovative capacities are increasingly active in this field.

This is particularly apparent in new therapies
developed for the treatment of cancer patients.
German pharmaceutical companies are at
the forefront of newly emerging innovative
approaches, for example, in the field of immunotherapies. Advances in biomedical research inrecent decades have led to an increased understanding of the inner workings of the body’s
defense system. New procedures based on bi­and multi-specific antibodies, glycol-modified
antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs),mRNA and DNA, oncolytic viruses, and cell therapies are well established in Germany (see “Spotlight on Oncology” in this publication).

20

High Level of Orphan Disease Expertise
The advancement of knowledge in understanding the molecular biology of diseases has also
become the basis for developing targeted therapies for niche indications and rare diseases. As
demonstrated by European Medicines Agency(EMA) and US Food and Drug Administration(FDA) statistics, the number of orphan drug designations has increased significantly over the
past years. Facilitated approval processes forthese drugs have further strengthened this trend.
These favorable conditions have also paved theway for innovations developed by SMEs.

Approvals for Drugs with Orphan Drug Status(European Union)

15

4
2005

5

2010

2015

2020

Source: vfa (2021)

This is exemplified by growing approvals fororphan drugs in Germany. On average, one-thirdof new drugs target orphan diseases, most ofthem for treatments in oncology (51 percent),
metabolic diseases (21 percent), neurology (7.6
percent), and cardiovascular diseases (5.4 percent). German companies have extensive experience in addressing specific groups of patients.
Many of them, for instance, specialize in thedevelopment of therapies for children – still oneof the major challenges of modern medicine.

MEDICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
Medical Biotechnology is one of the mostinnovative healthcare
fields in Germany. Thispublication provides anindustry overview.

HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY

The Medical
Biotechnology Sector

15

HIGH POTENTIAL FOR COOPERATION

Sector Structure
The German pharmaceutical sector is known for
its extensive proficiency in a number of business fields. This is reflected in the wide range of
products and services offered. Companies actively
focus their activities on:• development, distribution, and sale of innovative prescription medicines such as small
molecules, biologicals and ATMPs, also for thetreatment of rare diseases• manufacture, distribution and sale of generics
and biosimilars• development and manufacture of non-prescription medicines (“over-the-counter” drugs)• development, manufacture and distribution ofphytotherapies and homeopathic medicines• manufacture and/or contract research fornational and international clients
Many companies address several of these activity areas at the same time to broaden their client
portfolio and to exploit synergies.

Number of Pharmaceutical Industry Patents Granted to Applicantsfrom Germany

2020

219

2018

218
227

2016
204

2014

222

2012

213

2010

Source: European Patent Office (2021)

Innovation to Combat Common Diseases
The German pharmaceutical industry is worldrenowned for its commitment to innovation. Thisis reflected in high R&D spending levels – around
EUR 8.4 billion in 2019 – with companies able toprovide extensive expertise in the treatment of
numerous patient indications.
Major activities relate to widespread common diseases such as in the fields of oncology, metabolic

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The Pharmaceutical Sector | health-made-in-germany.com

diseases, and immunology. The number of drugs
already approved in Europe and newly developed drug candidates underline this high levelof engagement. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic,
pharmaceutical companies in Germany launcheda total of 32 drugs with new active ingredients on
the market in 2020 – seven more than the previous year. In addition to the first vaccine against
Covid-19, these also included 10 new anti-cancer
drugs. Further drugs against infectious diseases(4), neurological diseases (3), hemorrhagic disorders (4), inflammatory diseases (5), cardiovascular diseases (1) and metabolic diseases (4) werelaunched.
Generics Expertise
Another major strength of the German pharmaceutical industry is its expertise in generics. Of
the EUR 30.6 billion pharmaceutical companies
received from statutory health insurance providers in 2020, some 19.3 percent is devoted togeneric drug manufacturers. Most of these drugs
are produced by German companies with a reputation for high-quality manufacturing processes.
Numerous companies that have generics in theirportfolio, are important for maintaining the supply of basic drugs (against cancer, for example,
many generic cytostatics that are often first-line
treatments in physicians’ guidelines).
This also holds true for the growing biosimilars
market. Due to the expiry of patent protection
for many of the original biopharmaceutical drugs,
generic companies and innovators are increasingly
focusing on offering generic variants of biopharmaceuticals. With its considerable expertise inbiopharmaceutical manufacturing, Germany provides excellent infrastructure for the productionof biosimilars for the national and international
market. From this perspective, due to a higher
demand for cost-effectiveness in healthcare systems worldwide, German companies are also wellpositioned in this area in the long term.
According to the Association of Research-Based
Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa), biosimilars are
gaining significant market shares of up to 60
percent in the first year after launch. Biosimilars’current market share for several medicines waseven greater by the end of 2019, with 75 percent
for infliximab biosimilars and 80 percent for rituximab biosimilars among others.

High Quality Contract Manufacturing
Many German pharmaceutical companies areactive in the contract manufacturing business, offering a wide range of products such as
packaging services, solid forms, liquid forms,
custom-made products, and other services suchas injectables. There are three types of companies
among the contract manufacturing organizations(CMOs):• traditional CMOs focusing only on this businessactivity• pharmaceutical companies that have mergedwith a CMO now offering these services among
other areas of business• traditional pharmaceutical companies offering
CMO services to operate at full capacity
Within the highly competitive CMO markets, German companies are well-known for their highdegree of specialization, vertical integration andflexibility, the quality of their process optimization and employee education, and excellent linkages with the German chemical industry. Today,these competencies are increasingly in demand
due to innovation-driven pharmaceutical companies outsourcing their production to externalorganizations, particularly regarding generic drugs.

Leading Indication Revenue Areas in the German Pharmacy
Market 2020
in EUR billion
Antineoplastic protein kinase inhibitors

2.22

Direct Factor
Xa inhibitors

2.11

Anti-TNF
preparations

2.07

Medication for
multiple sclerosis

1.77

Human insulin
and analogs

1.37

Other antineoplastic agents

1.16

Analgesics,
narcotics

1.00

Antivirals(vaccines)

0.95

Hormoneantagonists

0.94Interleukin
inhibitors

0.90

Source: BPI (2021)

OTC Product Sales in Germany by Indicationin 2020in percent / EUR billion2
Alimentary
system andmetabolism

24.5%

Respiratory
system21.1%

Nervous system

13.9%

Dermatology
Muscular andskeletal
systems
Other

12.3%

7.2%

0.95

0.63

0.55

0.33

12.0%

1.11

OTC Products Made in Germany
Companies focusing on the development anddistribution of non-prescription medicines, also
called over-the-counter (OTC) products, areanother area of expertise of the German pharmaceutical industry. Total sales of OTC products
amounted to around EUR 4.52 billion in 2020.
Cold medicines, general pain treatments andtherapies to combat muscle and limb pain
count among the core competencies of German enterprises in this field. A growing numberof companies also offer special therapies suchas phytotherapies and homeopathy. Germany’s
strong domestic market makes OTC manufacturers attractive business partners for international
clients. Plant-based, high-grade medicines “Madein Germany,” for example, are among the top
pharmaceutical products sold in Asian countries.

0.95

Source: ABDA (2021)
2

values excluding VAT

7

FOCUS ON INNOVATIONThe PharmaceuticalLandscape in Germany
Innovation Leader Germany
Germany offers the ideal infrastructure for thedevelopment and production of research-intensive, high-grade products. It places a great value
on technology, backed by the country’s long history in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry
as well as its particular strength in producing
complex products where containment and sterile
environments are critical. Hundreds of thousandsof highly skilled employees with backgrounds inmedical technology, pharmaceutical technology,
engineering, and processing make it possible forGerman pharmaceutical companies to set up andrun high-quality processes.
R&D Excellence
The German pharmaceutical sector works very
closely with non-university research institutes,
universities, hospitals, and start-ups from thebiotechnology, medical technology and chemical
fields. In industry clusters and networks throughout the country they are aiming to improve existing treatments and develop new therapies. Overthe past decades, some regions have become
established as Europe’s leading R&D hubs andchemical parks, paving the way for interdisciplinary collaboration.
The German pharmaceutical industry, integrated
into these networks as a valued partner, benefits
from the R&D excellence across the country andis able to efficiently commercialize innovative
drugs. There are more than 104,211 drugs in different stages of approval by the German Federal
Institute for Drugs and Medical Products (BfArM,
June 2021). Of those drugs, 34,923 are over-thecounter, 17,555 pharmacy-only and 49,311 prescription-only, showing the diverse applicationsof new innovative drugs.
German Centers for Health Research
The German government has consistently supported excellence in health research. Since 2009,
the German Federal Ministry of Research and
Education (BMBF) and the Federal States havephased in new research structures, known as theGerman Centers for Health Research, to more
effectively address major common diseases suchas cancer, diabetes, neurology, cardiovasculardiseases, infectious diseases, and lung diseases.
There are currently more than 80 locations with

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The Pharmaceutical Sector | health-made-in-germany.com

more than a hundred participating universities,
university hospitals and non-university research
institutions that are part of this huge network.
Many of them have launched several projects
involving national and international pharmaceutical companies.
Traditional Expertise in Infectious Diseases
The development of new treatments for infectious diseases is a special area of German expertise. Based on major scientific developments
made by German physicians such as Robert Kochand Emil Behring at the end of the 18th century,
the development and production of vaccines
has established itself as a core pharmaceuticalcompetence in Germany. This rich legacy has led
a number of international corporations to construct large facilities here in recent decades. Some
German biotechnology companies, for instance,develop vaccination strategies based on naturalmessenger RNA as a data carrier instructing thehuman body to produce its own proteins to fighta wide range of infectious diseases. Germany
also offers considerable expertise in the area ofbacterial infections and the fight against multiresistant pathogens.
In the past two years, a growing number of German researchers have revealed new insights into
promising antimicrobials in high-level peer-review
publications to fight antibiotic-resistant strains.
Besides new antibiotics, the class of bacteriophages is identified as an alternative treatment
option. In 2017, a substantial number of German
clinical researchers at hospitals, academic institutes and pharmaceutical companies founded the“National Forum Phages” research forum at the
University of Hohenheim (Stuttgart) to further
explore this potential. This offers plenty of new
collaboration opportunities with partners worldwide in the long term. In 2020, some 89 papers
were published with German authors/co-authors
under the Phages umbrella.
Covid-19 Vaccination Made in Germany
Internationally, Germany is one of the countries
with a particularly large number of projects for
vaccines against Covid-19, with over 30 companies and research institutions directly working onor supporting the development and production of
vaccines. There are production capacities in Germany for vaccines based on mRNA, vector viruses,proteins, peptides, DNA, and polysaccharides. As
part of the global fight against Covid-19, innovations based on proven active ingredients are also
moving into the focus of so-called repurposing.
The Leader in Drug Approvals
The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) examines whether
and how quickly new drugs are available in thenational health systems every year. One of thebenchmarks is the time between approval andprescription, with Germany currently leading withan average of 50 days. For comparison: in Switzerland it takes 87 days, in England 297 days and474 days in France. Germany’s top position can be
attributed to structural decisions early on and toprocedural reliability. New drugs are reimbursedby the health insurers immediately after they havebeen approved. Discounts are only negotiatedwith the health insurance companies afterwards.

Strength in Clinical Trials
In 2019, Germany ranked fifth worldwide inclinical drug trials by pharmaceutical companies.
Geographically located at the heart of Europe,
Germany offers attractive conditions to integrate
and manage study centers. German pharmaceutical companies have entered into major strategic
partnerships with over 20 university hospitals
active in clinical research in Germany and in collaboration with the “Koordinierungszentren fürklinische Studien” (KKS - Coordination Centers forClinical Studies). These German university hospitals strive to build up a new pipeline of promising new treatments. Germany’s attractiveness asa clinical trial location is confirmed by statistics
available in the international registry of ClinicalTrials.gov. According to vfa analysis, a total of 550
trials to combat 210 different illnesses took placein Germany in 2019.

Clinical Trials Focus in Germany 2019

Cancers

150
127

Inflammatory diseases
Div. metabolic diseases

35

Infectious diseases

28

Cardiovascular diseases

26

Neurodegenerative diseases

16

Div. neurological diseases
Diabetes Type 2 andconsequences
Kidney diseases

16

11

Eye diseases

10

Transplant

10

12

Pain management

8

Physical diseases

7

Liver and gallbladder diseases

7

COPD

4

Bleeding disorders

3

Muscular disorders

3

Women’s diseases

2

Aesthetic medicine

2

Other

73

Source: vfa (2020)

9INDUSTRY VOICESGerman Expertise
German pharmaceutical companies have extensive experience in bringing forward new drugs
and therapies from lab to market. Whether it’sdrug discovery, drug development or drug manufacturing in traditional markets or innovative
areas, whether it’s large corporations or mediumsized companies, pharmaceutical products “Madein Germany” are highly appreciated all over theworld. At the same time, international markets
play an important role in the German pharmaceutical industry.
Here, leading representatives of three German
pharmaceutical companies report on what makes
their expertise so interesting for international
partners, why global alliances and strategic partnerships are the key to successful business development and what they have learned from thecorona pandemic.
As an independent family business, DR. KADE
has been developing, producing and marketinghigh-quality medical products and devices bothin the prescription and self-medication sectors
since 1886. In 2020 the turnover from the business activities of DR. KADE amounted to approximately EUR 78 million. DR. KADE’s products are
represented by 23 partners in 24 countries.
InfectoPharm strives to improve children’s health.
Since 1988, the medium-sized company is focusing on pharmaceuticals for children and difficultto-treat infections. Today, InfectoPharm runs ahighly diverse portfolio of more than 100 products
and engages in about 30 strategic partnerships
globally. 180 employees contribute to the annual
growth of this family-owned company.
Boehringer Ingelheim is a research-driven, familyowned large pharmaceutical company. Some
52,000 employees work in the three businessareas of human pharmaceuticals, animal healthand biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing.
In 2020, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net salesof EUR 19.6 billion. Generating 74 percent of total
net sales, Human Pharma is the biggest businessarea of Boehringer Ingelheim.

Norma Freise-Otto
Head of International Business,
DR. KADE Health-Care, Berlin
What distinguishes pharmaceuticals made inGermany in international comparison?
German companies score points for their tradition, experience and quality in the manufactureof pharmaceuticals. DR. KADE can look back on ahistory of high-quality pharmaceutical production
since 1886. Our products are characterized by theirhigh quality, we produce exclusively in Berlin andwe source our raw materials and additives in Germany or the EU.
What can international partners expect fromcollaborating with DR. KADE?
Safety and quality come first with our branded
products “made in Germany.” The efficacy andsafety of our preparations are proven. In addition, our expertise and experience from Germany
as well as internationally allows us to promise
our partners maximum support in the marketingof our preparations – both in terms of marketingand sales.
What are your most important “lessons
learned” from the corona crisis for inter­national business?
Shortages in the supply of medicines to Covid19 patients and the public in general have posed
major challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. The limited number of active ingredient
manufacturers makes the great dependence ofdrug manufacturers abundantly clear. That is why
it is important to strengthen Europe’s position in
the pharmaceutical sector in order to ensure continuous and reliable supply of medicines.
www.kade.de/en

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The Pharmaceutical Sector | health-made-in-germany.com

Dr. Markus RudolphCEO, InfectoPharm Arzneimittel und Consilium
Gmbh, Heppenheim

Dr. Carinne Brouillon
Board of Managing Directors, Head of Human
Pharma Business Unit, Boehringer Ingelheim

What distinguishes pharmaceuticals “made inGermany” in international comparison?
Germany is Europe’s biggest pharmaceutical market and among the largest worldwide. Outstanding
enterprises – such as Bayer, Merck and Boehringer– demonstrate that Germany offers attractive
conditions for growth. This also applies to a large
number of midsized, family-led companies like
InfectoPharm. These “hidden champions” care for awide range of specialized products. They operate
at the heart of Europe, are embedded into global
supply chains and enjoy close proximity to excellent research facilities.

What distinguishes pharmaceuticals “made inGermany” in international comparison?
In Germany, innovative companies can rely onhighly qualified employees. This is a great strengthand one that provides the basis for top-levelresearch. Boehringer Ingelheim shows impressively
that Germany provides the necessary preconditions. To preserve this as an asset of the Germansite, a research-friendly regulatory framework is
required to provide incentives for further investments.

What can international partners expect fromcollaborating with InfectoPharm?
InfectoPharm offers access to a high-quality andscientific-based product portfolio. We provide
unique pediatric/dermatological products andindispensable antibiotics for difficult-to-treat
infections. Our partners can rely on proven marketing concepts and solid medical and marketing support. We provide regular sales force training withmodular marketing materials and the latest scientific information for health care professionals.
What are your most important “lessons learned”
from the corona crisis for international business?
Corona taught the need for agility. We had to findpragmatic solutions to problems quickly. Transparency and communication were key factors throughout. How reliable is our supply chain? Is corona
confronting us with abrupt changes in customer
demands? We run a network of national and EUwide contract manufacturers and a safety stock ofcore products to counter times of ambiguity.
www.infectopharm.com

What can international partners expect fromcollaborating with Boehringer Ingelheim?
Boehringer Ingelheim maintains strong global
partnerships with companies from various sectors,
which we would like to intensify. For example,
an outstanding cooperation has been set up with
Google in the area of quantum computing. We
offer a high level of innovation in the development of medical treatments that we combine witha wealth of pharmaceutical sector experience.
What are your most important “lessons learned”
from the corona crisis for international business?
The important issue of health has moved into the
spotlight during the pandemic. It has shown theextent to which diseases can have a serious effecton all areas of social life and the economy. We
need strong and innovative pharmaceutical companies to protect people from future pandemics
and to create therapies that make a real difference. Part of this is an international exchange ofknowledge and goods and an effective intellectual
property protection. We need to intensify innovative research more than ever.
www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

11

SPECIAL TOPIC

Spotlight on Cancer
High Medical Need for New Treatments
Cancer remains one of the major health threats
in developed countries, being the second mostfrequent cause of death in Germany. Cancer
treatment is currently composed of five pillars:
surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapies and, most recently, immuno-oncological therapies. The German pharmaceutical industry has
substantial activities in all of these five areas injoint collaboration with biotechnology companies.
With the “National Decade Against Cancer”,
the Federal Ministry of Education and Research(BMBF), together with many other partners, haslaunched a unique initiative. Their shared goal is
to make decisive progress in cancer research andto involve patients closely in order to give themever better opportunities for healing and recovery. Three main topics are in focus: “unsolved
questions in cancer research,” “prevention” and“generating knowledge by networking researchand care”.
Outstanding Research InfrastructureWith its globally renowned research centers andexcellent clinical infrastructure, Germany offers
outstanding opportunities for the research anddevelopment of new cancer drugs. The German
Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg
ranks as one of the top locations worldwide
in the field. Understanding in oncology has
increased significantly due to intensive research
activities. This has helped to identify novel targets and biomarkers for improving the efficacyof existing cancer therapies and diagnostics aswell as bringing totally new drugs to the market.
In the 10-year period from 2006 to 2016, some 36
drugs received conditional approval in Europe – 17of which were cancer therapies. In 2019 alone, theEuropean Medicines Agency (EMA) granted a further eight drugs with conditional approval including four preparations for cancer treatment.
Targeted Therapies for Personalized Cancer
Medicine
German pharmaceutical and biotech firms continue to invest intensively in oncology research,creating the basis for new personalized therapies.
They often pursue completely new approaches,such as bi- or multispecific antibodies, glycomodified antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs),
mRNA- and DNA-based approaches, oncolytic
viruses, and cell therapies.

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The Pharmaceutical Sector | health-made-in-germany.com

They are not yet able to overcome cancer but
can help patients diagnosed with cancer to live
longer. The new drugs approved in the past years
were for the treatment of any tumor that has acertain gene mutation (an NTRK gene fusion) –regardless of the organ affected. This is where thechanged understanding of cancer is put to practical use.
In 2019 and 2020, international pharmaceuticalcompanies launched 10 new cancer drugs. In addition, they have been able to expand the area of
application to other types and stages of cancer
for many drugs that have already been introduced.
Germany’s role is also essential when it comes totesting new cancer drugs in clinical studies withpatients. German clinics and medical practices are
currently involved in around 1,000 cancer studies
initiated by pharmaceutical and biotech companies. This is equivalent to around 42 percent of allindustry-initiated patient studies in Germany as
a whole.
Expertise in Immunotherapies
Growing knowledge in immune biology andcancer research has enabled major advances,
particularly in immuno-oncology. German immunologists and molecular biologists have uncovered a number of targets and signals within the
immune system that serve as keys for mobilizing
the immune response in the fight against cancer
cells. Checkpoint inhibitors are currently the mostwell-known approach used in several cancer indications. Large pharmaceutical corporations andsmall and medium-sized biotechnology companies
based in Germany have excellent, long-established expertise in developing novel immunotherapies that use different tools in the body’s own
immune system to address cancer indications.

OUR PARTNERS

Industry Associations
The German pharmaceutical industry is represented by a number of industry associations
that lobby for improvements for their member
companies. HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY works
closely together with them to provide support
for international companies seeking collaborationand partnerships with German companies activein the pharmaceutical sector. To further enhance
sector visibility, we facilitate the presence of German players at relevant industry events and provide a platform for connecting with international
partners.

with all its variety. Around 270 member companies comprise the whole spectrum of the pharmaceutical industry, ranging from multinational
corporations to SMEs, Mid-Caps as well as Startups. These companies ensure drug supply for all
patients across the EU and globally. The members
benefit from a wide range of services and support. BPI provides exclusive analyses and fast
information for its members, current topics arepresented and discussed in more than 50 committees and working groups. By providing information to decision-makers at federal, state, and EU
level on the common interests of the industry, we
shape the social and legal framework conditions
for our industry.
www.bpi.de

BAH – German Medicines Manufacturers’
Association
By company membership, the German Medicines
Manufacturers’ Association (BAH) is the leading
trade organization of the pharmaceutical industry in Germany. It represents the interests ofmore than 450 member companies, which create
about 80,000 jobs in Germany. Globally operating
medicines manufacturers are as involved in the
manifold activities of the association as well as
the broadly represented medium-sized businesses.
BAH covers the entire range of the industrial
landscape from self-medication medicines (OTC)
through to prescription drugs (Rx) and medical
devices. The association is a close contact partner
for politicians, authorities and institutions within
the healthcare sector, and provides a strong link
between various interest groups.
BAH represents its members at European andinternational level through the Brussels-based
AESGP and the Geneva-based WSMI.
www.bah-bonn.de/en

BPI – German Pharmaceutical Industry
Association
With 70 years of experience attending our member companies’ needs regarding drug research,development, authorization, manufacturing andmarketing, BPI is the national industry association which represents the pharmaceutical industry

VfA – Association of Research-Based
Pharmaceutical Companies
The vfa, the Association of Research based Pharmaceutical Companies, is the trade organizationof research based pharmaceutical companies inGermany. Forty-five leading research-based pharmaceutical companies are organized in the vfa.
Together with their more than 100 subsidiaries andaffiliated companies, they employ more than 80,000
people in Germany. The vfa member companies areamong the leading research-based pharmaceuticalcompanies worldwide. They guarantee therapeutic progress in pharmaceuticals and ensure highquality pharmaceutical therapy. In Germany morethan 19,000 of their employees work in the fieldof research and development of pharmaceuticals.
Here, the research-based pharmaceutical companies
invest EUR 6,2 billion per year in pharmaceuticalresearch. The Association of Research-based Pharmaceutical Companies represents a German hightech industry that is competitive in the international
markets.
www.vfa.de/en

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OUR SERVICESHEALTH MADE IN GERMANY
Germany is one of the world’s most important
providers and exporters of healthcare products
and services. The country’s innovative medical
products set international standards for quality,
safety and reliability. German manufacturers andservice providers in all health and life sciences
segments attract overseas customers and partners
and deliver leadership in healthcare innovation.
HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY is the export initiative
for the German healthcare industry. It supports
international companies and organizations that areinterested in establishing contact with potential
German partners and suppliers. Set up by theGerman Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs andClimate Action (BMWK), the initiative bundles
expert market intelligence for easy industry access.
One of the initiative’s main goals is to promote theGerman healthcare sector through international
networking activities for the mutual benefit ofinternational partners and German companies alike.
HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY does this by providing
proactive support (including market and regulatory

insight), introductory services, and networking
platforms including trade events at home andabroad. The initiative serves four major industries
active in the international medical market:
pharmaceuticals, medical technology, medical
biotechnology, and digital health care.
HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY also works closelywith 16 major German industry associations andis part of the BMWK’s MITTELSTAND GLOBAL
umbrella program for small and medium-sizedenterprises. The initiative is ideally placed toprovide access to German healthcare market
information and to help overseas businesses
identify potential German partners.
The HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY initiative is
implemented by Germany Trade & Invest, theeconomic development agency of the Federal
Republic of Germany, on behalf of the BMWK.

For more information:www.health-made-in-germany.com

Our support for your business:
We publish market briefs, in-depth market
studies and company directories of theGerman healthcare industry and its different sectors.
Our calendar is regularly updated withthe latest industry events in Germany
and overseas.
We take part in leading healthcare
trade fairs all over the world, organize
networking events and enjoy ongoing
dialogue and exchange with international
health policymakers.

14

The Pharmaceutical Sector | health-made-in-germany.com

We provide free access to 3,500+ German
healthcare companies with our online database. Detailed company profiles and directcontact information help international
businesses to identify potential suppliers
and partners in Germany.
Visit www.health-made-in-germany.com
for more information about the German
healthcare industry and all HEALTH MADE
IN GERMANY activities.

CONTACT

Expert Advice

Imprint
Publisher
Germany Trade and Invest
Gesellschaft für Außenwirtschaft
und Standortmarketing mbH
Friedrichstraße 60
10117 Berlin
Germany
Executive Board
Dr. Jürgen Friedrich, Chairman/CEO
Dr. Robert Hermann, CEO
EditorWilliam MacDougall, Germany Trade & Invest, Berlin

Axel Lohse is the manager responsible for the
medical biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries at HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY. He is yourpoint of contact for expert advice in those fields
and looks forward to receiving your inquiries andrequests.

Author
CONOSCOPE GmbH, Leipzig

Get in touch with us to learn more about what
HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY can do for you.

Notes
All rights reserved.
© Germany Trade & Invest, February 2022
Reproduction, in whole or in part, only permissible
with express prior authorization. All market data
provided is based on the most current market
information available at the time of publication.
­Germany Trade & Invest accepts no liability forthe actuality, accuracy, or completeness of theinformation provided.

Axel Lohse
Deputy Director and Manager,
Medical Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals
T +49 30 200 099-254
Axel.Lohse@gtai.com
www.health-made-in-germany.com
www.gtai.com

Print
Kern GmbH, 66450 Bexbach
www.kerndruck.de

Order Number
20996-2
Picture Credits
Front page: zorazhuang/istockphoto.com; page 10:
NFO; page 11: @InfectoPharm, Boehringer Ingelheim
International GmbH; page 15: Illing & Vossbeck
Fotografie

15

About Us
Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) is the economic development agencyof the Federal Republic of Germany. The company helps create andsecure extra employment opportunities, strengthening Germany as
a business location. With more than 50 offices in Germany and abroad
and its network of partners throughout the world, GTAI supports
German companies setting up in foreign markets, promotes Germany as
a business location and assists foreign companies setting up in Germany.
All investment services and related publications are free of charge.

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Headquarters
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