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

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.



2019

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

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

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

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 in oncology.


1988

The within Fresenius developed Aminomix® Two-Chamber-Bag for parenteral nutrition is launched.

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.