Pills made in Austria – recipes for success from our private pharmaceutical multinationals

“We export to more than 80 countries and with our main product we rank among the top 3 manufacturers in the world,” says Katherina Schmidt, Managing Director of Montavit. In 1992, her father took over the company founded by Daniel Swarovski in Absam, among others. The Tyrolean company now has a turnover of approximately 30 million with Cathejell, a gel for catheters, as well as various herbal medicines. “We have great competence there, also internationally.”

Schmidt’s recipe for success: In addition to this specialization, they rely on collaboration with start-ups such as the profem of Vienna (“We would then take over the production”), and Montavit is currently developing an anti-virus drug with Meduni Innsbruck.

Flexibility and top services in niches also ensure steady growth for Sigmapharm. The company, which its founders (turnover: €30 million) in Vienna and Hornstein/Burgenland have placed in a foundation, “is a European player, and there is probably no one in Austria who has not heard from us,” smiles CEO Bernhard Wittman.

For example, one of them is familiar with Coldamaris nasal sprays. In the production subsidiary MoNa, Sigmapharm also produces preparations for third parties such as Boehringer or the British pharmacy chain Boots in order to ensure economical use. “We are very valued development partners there.”

With 1,000 employees and a turnover of 220 million euros, the local giant Gerot-Lannach is owned by the Bartenstein family. Most recently, the capacity in the main factory has doubled by 60 million euros, because “every seventh pack of medicines in Austria comes from us, we are the market leader,” confirms boss Ilse Bartenstein.