History

CROMA’s success story began in the mid 70s, when the pharmacist couple Gerhard and Karin Prinz founded the pharmaceutical company Croma-Pharma in Vienna. 10 years after the foundation and the development of the first in-licensed active substance for glaucoma treatment, the company specialized in ophthalmology and began to manufacture its first viscoelastics under sterile conditions.

In the years to follow the product portfolio in the ophthalmic area was constantly expanded and the foundation stone for the continuous growth of the company was laid through the establishment of an own manufacturing facility for pre-filled syringes.

In 1995 Croma-Pharma was certified as one of the first manufacturers of medical devices in Austria. Four years later the company launched its first hyaluronate-based product for ophthalmic surgery. In 2000 Croma-Pharma launched a fully automated production of viscoelastic fluids in Leobendorf near Vienna and began to build an international distribution network. Later Croma-Pharma applied its knowledge and experience in the area of ophthalmic viscoelastics, among others, to the field of orthopaedics and has successfully manufactured its viscoelastic product line for arthrosis treatment  since 2002.

The establishment of subsidiaries in Germany and Poland initiated the company’s internationalization and paved the way for a new specialization in the area of medical devices and medicinal products. In 2007 Croma-Pharma successfully acquired the Swiss company Xcelens® as well as the ophthalmic branch of the French Corneal® group. In 2008 all divisions were merged under the umbrella brand CROMA. With subsidiaries in Germany, France, Spain, Poland and Romania and its domestic market in Austria, CROMA ranks among the most successful Austrian pharmaceutical companies.