Company

Adaptation of the expert information for Remotiv®

Due to sufficient evidence, the patient and professional information of remotiv^® has been adapted as of 1.1.2020. Previous pharmacokinetic interactions and the resulting restrictions on use and warnings are no longer listed. This means that the low-hyperforin St. John's wort extract Ze 117 is the only St. John's wort extract in Switzerland that can be combined with medicinal products that are metabolised via specific degradation and transport pathways. This is a major milestone for the company and for evidence-based phytotherapy.

Launch of zeller heuschnupfen

Zeller conducted an extensive research project to develop a new kind of herbal antiallergenic agent using butterbur leaves. The development of this «new herbal entity» involved numerous preclinical and clinical trials and was incredibly comprehensive for a plant-based medicine.

zeller heuschnupfen has been available over the counter in all Swiss pharmacies as a List D preparation since February 2018.

Establishment of Vitaplant Africa

Cultivation areas were set up in East Africa in accordance with our extremely high quality standards. We plan to expand these areas by over 100 hectares. The infrastructure at both locations is also being rapidly developed.

Opening of the medicinal garden in Uttwil

The medicinal garden is located near the shores of Lake Constance, right next to the shared pedestrian and cycling path between Kesswil and Romanshorn. The garden is open to visitors all year round and its plants are grouped according to the different ailments they are used to treat. Detailed signage provides information about the plants’ various healing properties.

Completion of the new laboratory building in Romanshorn

The new laboratory was completely rebuilt and is now equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for plant research and analysis. The building also features spacious offices, a cafeteria where employees meet and exchange ideas, as well as an auditorium for internal and external events.

Launch of remotiv® 250

Zeller was able to get St John’s wort reinstated as a List D ingredient thanks to the special Ze 117 plant extract in its product remotiv^® 250. Until the redistribution of the dispensing categories in 2019, this product for mood-swings was the only scientifically documented St. John's wort preparation that could be sold in Swiss drugstores. This was because of its superior drug safety.

Opening of the Vitaplant in Uttwil

In January 2010 Vitaplant moved from Witterswil near Basel to an area close to the Zeller’s Uttwil site. The Zeller subsidiary now has 60,000 m2 in an idyllic location right next to Lake Constance. The expansive grounds feature modern greenhouses, a GMP-certified raw material warehouse, a farm building, as well as a fieldwork station for conducting tests.

Zeller becomes Vitaplant’s majority shareholder

High-quality raw materials are crucial for the production of herbal medicines. Vitaplant AG joined Zeller as part of a strategic reverse integration and specialises in seeds and the development of plant cultivation techniques. They use the latest technologies to develop innovative plant extracts for the production of herbal medicines.

Completion of the new film-coating facility in Romanshorn

Zeller built one of the world’s most modern facilities for film-coating quality herbal preparations in order to increase its annual production capacity to 800 million film-coated tablets.

Completion of a new production building

This new high-tech factory began operations in April 1997 and took two years to build. It features a despatch department with a fully automatic high-bay warehouse located nine metres below the factory floor. This subterranean construction helps to keep noise emissions to a minimum in the surrounding residential area.

Founding of Zeller Medical AG

Zeller Medical AG was established with the aim of promoting herbal medicines as efficacious, cost-effective and well-tolerated initial therapies among the general population and doctors in Switzerland. Zeller Medical’s entire product portfolio consists of prescription-only medications that are covered by basic health insurance in Switzerland.

Collaboration with Ciba-Geigy (Novartis)

The aim of this collaboration was to expand research into phytopharmaceuticals. It was highly successful and resulted in a significant increase in Zeller’s analytical, pharmaceutical-technical development activities, as well as in the modernisation and improvement of key products.

Takeover of the embroidery building

On 8 May 1925, Max and Albert Zeller, both sons of the second generation, purchased the entire embroidery complex including the factory and villa. This paved the way for the company’s expansion and the start of industrial-scale production.

The building is still the headquarters of Max Zeller Söhne AG.

Opening of the first pharmacy in Romanshorn

Paul Friedrich Gaupp opened Romanshorn’s first pharmacy on Bahnhofstrasse, thereby laying the foundation for Max Zeller Söhne AG. Maximilian Georg Zeller joined the business shortly thereafter. Max Zeller was passionate about the development of herbal medicines. He performed countless tests to come up with his «miracle balm», which is now known as zeller balsam.

The renowned zeller balsam is used to relieve digestive complaints and is still made according to the original recipe.