A Heritage of Caring
The world was quite a different place when the Hirsch Pharmacy in Frankfurt am Main opened its doors in 1462. But the year plays a part in our history because, on October 1, 1912, the pharmacist Dr. Eduard Fresenius founded the pharmaceutical company Dr. E. Fresenius. The location of his business was the Hirsch Pharmacy. The date he chose to open his business had a special significance for him because on that same day, October 1, the Hirsch Pharmacy had celebrated its 450th anniversary. Fresenius Kabi was founded in 1999 but we as a company are connected to a much older pharmaceutical heritage and history of caring for life. Whatever the future brings, we will continue our tradition of driving technological breakthroughs, improving healthcare, expanding treatment access, and pushing boundaries.
Company milestones
2024
Aiming for Top Employer Accreditation
2023
MHRA approves second biosimilar in the UK
2022
Acquisition of MedTech innovator Ivenix and majority stake takeover of Biopharma expert mAbxience.
2021
Vision 2026 introduced – the comprehensive framework to transform Fresenius Kabi for the decade to come.
2020
Launch of first biosimilar in the UK during the pandemic
2019
Construction and opening of Cestrian Court II in Runcorn (8,361 m2 warehouse and 2,183 m2 offices)
Fresenius Kabi launches its first biosimilar in Europe.
2017
Fresenius Kabi enters the growing biosimilars sector by acquiring an R&D pipeline with a focus on autoimmune diseases and oncology.
2016
Fresenius Kabi expands its portfolio to ready-to-administer prefilled syringes by acquiring the U.S. BD Rx business from Becton Dickinson.
2014
Fresenius Kabi has over 32,000 employees and markets more than 100 different product groups in over 160 countries and continues to expand its product range and global presence.
2012
Fresenius Kabi acquires the transfusion technology company Fenwal and creates a global leader in transfusion technology with a broad product portfolio for collection and processing of blood components and for therapeutic treatment of patient blood by apheresis systems.
2008
Fresenius Kabi grows its I.V. generics business and expands into oncology drugs with the Dabur Pharma acquisition.
Fresenius Kabi enters the North American pharmaceuticals market and becomes a globally leading supplier in the field of intravenously administered generic drugs via the acquisition of the U.S. based APP Pharmaceuticals.
2007
Construction and opening of ASU at Cestrian Court, the largest aseptic unit in the UK.
Fresenius Kabi strengthens business activities through acquisitions.
Blood volume replacement: Acquisition of blood volume replacement business of Japanese pharmaceutical company Kyorin.
I.V. Drugs: Acquisition of the Chilean company Laboratorio Sanderson and the Italian company Ribbon.
Clinical Nutrition: Acquisition of the enteral nutrition businesses from Nestlé in France and Spain.
2006
Fresenius Kabi and Calea business merge at new build Cestrian Court (13,000 m2 warehouse and 2,890 m2 offices)
Acquisition of Argentinean pharmaceutical company Filaxis: Expansion of I.V. drug portfolio.
2005
Expansion of I.V. drug portfolio via acquisition of the Portuguese pharmaceutical company Labesfal. Fresenius Kabi strengthens product portfolio and production network of medical devices through the acquisition of the business of Clinico.
2004
Fresenius Kabi strengthens its market positions with acquisitions in South Africa and Czech Republic as well as with a joint venture in Australia.
2003
The business segment Fresenius HemoCare is reallocated within the Fresenius Group. Due to their similar technology platform, the Infusion Technology and Transfusion Technology Divisions are combined under one management and assigned to Fresenius Kabi.
2000
Incorporation of Calea Limited (February)
Fresenius Kabi accelerates its worldwide business expansion by opening up new growth markets in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
1999
Effective January 1, Fresenius Kabi is formed by combining Fresenius Group's Pharma division with the business acquired from Pharmacia & Upjohn (Kabi). The new company is Europe's leader in the field of nutrition and infusion therapy, offering a comprehensive product and service portfolio worldwide for hospitals and patients at home.
1998
In December 1998 Fresenius acquired the international infusion business of Pharmacia & Upjohn (Kabi).
1997
Inauguration of the state-of-the-art infusions solutions plant (Friedberg, Hesse), the most modern one in Europe.
1995
Laying of the cornerstone of the innovative infusion solution plant in Friedberg (Hesse). Introduction of the world’s first dipeptide solution for parenteral nutrition.
1993
Launch of Supportan®, a tube feed for enteral nutrition.
1990
Incorporation of Fresenius Healthcare (subsequently became Calea in 2000).
1986
Name changed to Fresenius Limited and subsequently to FHC (holdings) Limited in 1990.
1984
Establishment of the home care concept by which patients who have to be fed enterally (intake of nutrients involving the gastro-intestinal tract) can be cared for at home. At the same time expansion of the enteral nutrition range.
1979
The first ready-to-use tube feed Fresubin® is introduced.
1974
Fresenius starts to manufacture infusion solutions and medical disposables in St. Wendel, Saarland.
1966
Fresenius starts to sell dialysis machines and dialyzers manufactured by various foreign companies and gains substantial market shares.
1933/34
The manufacturing company is separated from the Hirsch Pharmacy and moves to Bad Homburg. Dr. Fresenius devotes more and more time to the company, which grows to around 400 employees.
1912
The pharmacist and proprietor of the Hirsch Pharmacy, Dr. Eduard Fresenius, founds the pharmaceutical company Dr. E. Fresenius. Its main products are pharmaceutical specialties such as injection solutions, serologic reagents and Bormelin nasal ointment.
1462
The Hirsch Pharmacy is opened in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The Fresenius family assumes ownership in the 19th century.
GB-NP-2400161 October 2024