Medac

Medac GmbH, commonly styled as medac, is a privately owned German pharmaceutical company headquartered in Wedel and Tornesch near Hamburg. Founded in Hamburg in April 1970 by Wilfried Mohr, Claus-Olaf Welding, Werner Mai, and Ernst Voss, the company began with coagulation preparations and fibrinolytics, while also marketing diagnostic antibody products. It subsequently concentrated increasingly on oncology, establishing a business model built around the development, manufacture, and continuous improvement of established medicines as well as the introduction of new therapies. Oncology remains central to Medac’s portfolio. The company markets more than 50 oncology active substances in different dosage forms for the treatment of multiple cancers. Its products include Mitomycin C and bladder-cancer therapies based on BCG for intravesical instillation. Medac also operates in rheumatology, urology, hematology, and diagnostics. In rheumatology, it is particularly associated with methotrexate, a folic-acid antagonist used in the management of rheumatoid arthritis and supplied in a range of strengths and administration formats. The company’s activities also include diagnosis of infectious and oncological diseases. Medac has expanded from a German origin into an international operating network. Its subsidiaries and branches span Europe, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates, while its medicines and diagnostic products are delivered to more than 90 countries. Production is carried out through wholly owned subsidiaries in Dessau-Roßlau, Germany, and Brno, Czech Republic. These facilities manufacture sterile medicines, including cytostatic products, supporting the company’s role in specialized hospital and clinical-care markets. The company’s history includes a period in which Schering AG held a 25 percent shareholding between 1997 and 2005. In 2020, Medac broadened its diagnostic response to the COVID-19 pandemic by presenting an antibody test for SARS-CoV-2 and a PCR test intended to detect the virus directly. In the same year, it prevailed before the European Court of Justice in a case concerning the classification of its self-manufactured medicine Treosulfan as an orphan drug. In 2021, Medac’s cell-therapy medicine Obnitix received the 2020 Innovation Prize from the German Pharmaceutical Journal. Medac’s present identity is therefore that of a specialist, vertically capable pharmaceutical business combining established medicines, sterile manufacturing, therapeutic development, and diagnostic expertise rather than a consumer-facing mass-market drug brand.

Medac was established in Hamburg in April 1970 by Wilfried Mohr, Claus-Olaf Welding, Werner Mai, and Ernst Voss. Its earliest activities centered on coagulation preparations and fibrinolytics. At the same time, the young company marketed diagnostic products based on antibodies, giving it an initial presence in both therapeutic and diagnostic medicine. Soon after its foundation, Medac moved its strategic emphasis toward oncology. Mitomycin C became an important early oncology product, and cancer treatment developed into the company’s principal area of specialization. Over time, Medac built a broad oncology portfolio comprising more than 50 active substances in multiple dosage forms. The portfolio covers a range of cancer indications and includes BCG used for intravesical instillation therapy in bladder cancer. The company’s oncology orientation also supported its later development of sterile medicines and cytostatic products for hospital and specialist-care settings. In the late 1980s, Medac added autoimmune disease treatment as a further therapeutic area. Methotrexate became a particularly important part of this activity. The folic-acid antagonist is used in rheumatoid arthritis treatment, and Medac supplies it in different strengths and administration forms intended to support practical use. Alongside oncology and rheumatology, the company developed activities in urology and hematology and retained expertise in diagnosing infectious and oncological diseases. Medac’s ownership history included a minority investment by Schering AG. Between 1997 and 2005, Schering held 25 percent of the company’s shares. After that period, Medac continued as a privately owned pharmaceutical business. Its operating structure expanded beyond Germany through subsidiaries and branches in numerous European markets, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates. Products manufactured or marketed by the company are delivered to more than 90 countries. Manufacturing became an important component of Medac’s international platform. The company has wholly owned production subsidiaries in Dessau-Roßlau, Germany, and Brno, Czech Republic. These sites produce sterile medicines, including cytostatics, allowing Medac to connect product development and pharmaceutical marketing with specialized production capabilities. The company’s more recent history includes activity in diagnostics and regulatory medicine. In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Medac presented both an antibody test for SARS-CoV-2 and a PCR test for direct viral detection. In October 2020, Medac won a European Court of Justice case concerning Treosulfan, a preparation it manufactured itself; the court proceedings resulted in the medicine being classified as an orphan drug. In January 2021, Medac’s cell-therapy medicine Obnitix was recognized with the 2020 Innovation Prize of the German Pharmaceutical Journal. Today, Medac operates as a privately owned, internationally active specialist pharmaceutical company based near Hamburg. Its identity rests on a combination of established-product improvement, development of new medicines, oncology and autoimmune-disease expertise, diagnostic capabilities, and controlled production of sterile specialist pharmaceuticals. Rather than functioning primarily as a consumer brand, it serves clinical, hospital, specialist, and laboratory markets across a broad international footprint.

• 2021

  Obnitix receives an innovation award

  [1]Medacen.wikipedia.org

  Medac’s cell-therapy medicine Obnitix receives the 2020 Innovation Prize from the German Pharmaceutical Journal, reported in January 2021.

• 2020

  COVID-19 diagnostic tests are presented

  [1]Medacen.wikipedia.org

  Medac presents an antibody test for SARS-CoV-2 and a PCR test for direct detection of the virus.

• 2020

  Treosulfan receives orphan-drug classification

  [1]Medacen.wikipedia.org

  Medac prevails before the European Court of Justice in proceedings concerning the orphan-drug status of its preparation Treosulfan.

• 2005

  Schering minority-investment period ends

  [1]Medacen.wikipedia.org

  The documented period in which Schering AG held 25 percent of Medac’s shares concludes.

• 1997

  Schering AG acquires a minority stake

  [1]Medacen.wikipedia.org

  Schering AG holds 25 percent of Medac’s shares during the period from 1997 to 2005.

• 1980

  Autoimmune-disease treatment becomes an additional area

  [1]Medacen.wikipedia.org

  In the late 1980s, Medac expands into autoimmune-disease treatment, later becoming a significant supplier of methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis.

• 1970

  Medac is founded in Hamburg

  [1]Medacen.wikipedia.org

  Wilfried Mohr, Claus-Olaf Welding, Werner Mai, and Ernst Voss establish Medac, initially focusing on coagulation preparations, fibrinolytics, and antibody-based diagnostic products.

• 1970

  Early oncology focus begins

  [1]Medacen.wikipedia.org

  After its initial formation, Medac increasingly concentrates on oncology and begins marketing Mitomycin C.

A privately owned specialist pharmaceutical company combining oncology-centered medicines, hospital-use sterile products, autoimmune-disease therapies, and infectious- and cancer-diagnostic expertise. Medac emphasizes improving established pharmaceutical products while also developing new medicines and maintaining its own manufacturing capabilities.

• Oncology medicine

  Mitomycin C

  Mitomycin C was among Medac’s early oncology products after the company shifted away from its initial emphasis on coagulation and fibrinolytic preparations. It represents the company’s longstanding focus on cancer medicines and its role in supplying established active substances for specialist treatment.

• Urology and oncology medicine

  BCG

  Medac offers BCG for intravesical instillation therapy in bladder cancer. The product is part of the company’s urology and oncology portfolio and is used in a specialist treatment setting rather than as a consumer pharmaceutical.

• Rheumatology medicine

  Methotrexate

  Methotrexate is a folic-acid antagonist used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions. Medac is described as one of the leading suppliers of the medicine and provides it in multiple dosages and administration forms.

• Oncology medicine

  Treosulfan

  Treosulfan is a preparation manufactured by Medac that became the subject of European Union orphan-drug classification proceedings. Medac prevailed before the European Court of Justice in 2020 concerning that classification.

• Cell therapy

  Obnitix

  Obnitix is a cell-therapy medicine developed by Medac. It received the 2020 Innovation Prize from the German Pharmaceutical Journal, with the recognition reported in January 2021.

• Infectious-disease diagnostic · 2020

  SARS-CoV-2 antibody test

  Medac presented an antibody test for SARS-CoV-2 in May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The test formed part of the company’s diagnostic response to the pandemic.

• Infectious-disease diagnostic · 2020

  SARS-CoV-2 PCR test

  Medac also presented a PCR test intended for direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 in May 2020. It complemented the company’s antibody-testing offering and reflected its established diagnostic expertise.

• 2021

  Recognition of Obnitix cell therapyOther

  Background

  Medac’s Obnitix cell-therapy medicine was considered for the German Pharmaceutical Journal’s innovation recognition.

  Action taken

  The product received the journal’s 2020 Innovation Prize, with the award reported in January 2021.

  Aftermath

  The award provided external recognition for Medac’s cell-therapy development work.

  Source

• 2020

  Launch of SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing productsProduct launch

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic created urgent demand for tests that could identify current infection and prior immune response.

  Action taken

  Medac presented an antibody test for SARS-CoV-2 and a PCR test for direct detection of the virus.

  Aftermath

  The launches demonstrated Medac’s continued activity in infectious-disease diagnostics alongside its pharmaceutical business.

  Source

• 2020

  Pursuit of orphan-drug classification for TreosulfanOther

  Background

  The regulatory status of Treosulfan, a preparation manufactured by Medac, was contested in European proceedings.

  Action taken

  Medac pursued the matter through the European legal process and prevailed before the European Court of Justice, which classified Treosulfan as an orphan drug.

  Aftermath

  The ruling established the orphan-drug classification described in the reference material.

  Source

1. 1Medacen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Medac official websitemedac.de