Where we come from
Although firmly rooted in Germany, today we are very much a growing global business. As an integrated research and development company, we have a strong track record of bringing effective pain treatments and state-of-the-art technologies to patients. Our high level of investment in R&D is testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation.
2026 Grünenthal Meds
Grünenthal takes full ownership of Grünenthal Meds, the joint venture established with Kyowa Kirin for its established medicines brands.
2025
Grünenthal acquires the rights to Cialis® from Lilly in Mexico, Brazil & Colombia
2024 Acquisition of Valinor Pharma
Grünenthal acquires the US-based Valinor Pharma, LLC (“Valinor”) and its product Movantik® (naloxegol). The transaction further expands Grünenthal’s portfolio of established medicines and adds to the company’s growing U.S. business.
2023 Grünenthal Meds
Through a Joint Venture with Kyowa Kirin International, Grünenthal launched a new enterprise, branded as Grünenthal Meds, a standalone organisation responsible for 13 brands across six core therapeutic areas.
2022 Nebido®
With the acquisition of the brand Nebido®, a testosterone replacement therapy, we further improve our profitability, allowing us to invest in research and development and create the next generation of pain therapies.
2021
Grünenthal celebrates its 75th anniversary. It is also the 60th year since the market withdrawal of Thalidomide.
With the European rights (except Spain and the U.K.) for the lipid-lowering agent Crestor®, as well as the Swiss company Mestex AG, with its innovative investigational medicine RTX (resiniferatoxin) for the intra-articular treatment of pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee, we complete two further significant acquisitions.
2020
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for the U.S. label of Qutenza® to now also include the treatment of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) of the feet in adults. This success marks a key milestone in implementing our company’s strategy and opens up powerful potential to drive growth for our U.S. business.
2018 Qutenza®
We establish our own commercial footprint in the United States by acquiring the US-rights for Qutenza® (capsaicin) 8% patch.
2018 Nexium® and Vimovo®
With the acquisition of the pain-related brands Nexium® and Vimovo®, we conclude the biggest single investment in the history of the company. This acquisition significantly strengthens our leading position in pain management.
2017 Zomig®
We enter into an agreement with AstraZeneca for the global rights to Zomig® (Zolmitriptan), excluding Japan, a treatment used for the acute treatment of migraines and cluster headaches. This adds another major pain indication to our portfolio.
2014 Arcoxia®
We begin to distribute Arcoxia® in several European countries and start to offer an innovative therapy for the treatment of pain with an inflammatory component.
2013 Andrómaco
We acquire Laboratorios Andrómaco S.A. and expand the business across Andean countries and Central America – a key milestone in the company’s global growth strategy.
2010 Palexia® retard
First launch of Palexia® retard in Europe: our tapentadol medication was the first innovative molecule in the centrally acting analgesic class approved in more than 25 years.
2007 Versatis®
Versatis®, a topically acting lidocaine patch used for the treatment of neuropathic pain after herpes zoster, is launched in the EU.
2003 Zaldiar®
Zaldiar® is launched globally as the first fixed-dose analgesic containing paracetamol and a small dose of Tramadol. This product is used for the treatment of acute pain.
2001 Transtec®
Transtec®, an analgesic for chronic pain, is launched in Europe. The innovative transdermal patch with a polymer-based matrix system allows the patient to easily handle their pain medication.
1977 Tramal®
Tramal® is launched; it has since become one of the most frequently prescribed central acting analgesics worldwide.
1968 International expansion
Grünenthal ventures overseas from Germany by founding an affiliate in Peru.
1957 Thalidomide
In 1957, the sleep and sedative drug Thalidomide (marketed as Contergan in Germany) is introduced to the market. After its teratogenic effects were discovered, it soon became the cause of one of the most well-known tragedies in pharmaceutical history. Today, we support individuals, who were affected by the drug’s harmful effects before its withdrawal from the market in 1961, through the Grünenthal Foundation. The foundation’s goal is to provide assistance where it is most urgently needed, to improve the daily lives of those affected, and to continue the important dialogue.
1947 Penicillin
Grünenthal is the first company in Germany to register penicillin after World War II.
1946 Foundation
The Wirtz family founds Chemie Grünenthal GmbH in Stolberg, Germany.