Tillotts Pharma Plans $25.7 Million Investment to Acquire Haupt Pharma Wülfing in Gronau, Germany

Tillotts Pharma AG has committed to a USD 25.7 million investment programme for Gronau as part of an agreement to acquire Haupt Pharma Wülfing GmbH, a pharmaceutical manufacturer located in the German town.

The Rheinfelden-based specialty pharmaceutical company signed the acquisition agreement on 23 October 2026, and it made the news public on 26 October 2026. The purchase price has not been disclosed.

Gronau operation keeps current name until closing

The transaction remains subject to conditions typical for deals of this nature, among them the granting of the required regulatory approvals.

Until the deal closes, the Gronau operation continues to trade as Haupt Pharma Wülfing GmbH.

Securing supply of a core product

The Gronau facility has produced Asacol, a central product in the Tillotts portfolio, for many years. Ownership of the site will allow Tillotts to directly control production capacity, planning, and quality and to adjust production flexibly in line with market demand.

Tillotts positions the acquisition within its long-term strategy as a growing specialty pharmaceutical company operating high-performance manufacturing sites. The company says the move is designed to secure the long-term supply of its existing portfolio, which is currently sold in approximately 65 countries.

Thomas A. Tóth von Kiskér, CEO of the Tillotts Group, emphasised supply dependability in the announcement. "Reliability is essential to us. Patients and our partners rely on us to supply them safely with high-quality products. With the Gronau site, we are strengthening our ability to live up to that trust over the long term," he said.

Investment earmarked for modernisation

The planned USD 25.7 million is to be spent on the Gronau site over the coming years.

According to Tillotts, the money will fund modernisation of the facility, further improvements to quality and efficiency, and the groundwork for future growth.

A workforce joining the group

Roughly 280 employees at the Gronau site will transfer to the Tillotts Group once the takeover is complete. The group currently employs 370 people across Europe.

Tillotts views the specialist knowledge and long experience of the Gronau workforce as central to maintaining and further developing the site's expertise. "The strength of this site lies in its people and their expertise. We look forward to welcoming the employees to Tillotts and building on this experience together," said Tóth von Kiskér.

Over 100 years of manufacturing capability

Pharmaceutical production at Gronau stretches back more than a century.

The site's services cover the development, manufacture, and packaging of solid dosage forms, along with analytical and formulation services and the packaging and distribution of clinical trial supplies.

The company behind the deal

Tillotts Pharma AG belongs to the Japanese Zeria Group and characterises itself as a fast-growing specialty pharmaceutical business with 370 employees in Switzerland and internationally. Its focus lies in developing, acquiring, and commercialising innovative pharmaceutical products for the digestive system.

The company markets its own treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), together with in-licensed products, in around 65 countries via its European subsidiaries and a global partner network.

Zeria Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Tokyo. The company researches, develops, manufactures, and sells prescription medicines and over-the-counter products.

It trades on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange under stock code 4559 and holds a leading position in gastroenterology in Japan.