In 1976, husband and wife pharmacists, Karin and Gerhard Prinz, founded Croma in Vienna.
In the beginning, the company focus was on the nationwide development of registration, import and distribution of products and drugs not registered in Austria.
The goal was to advance the development of innovative pharmaceutical products and to make these more accessible for patients.
In the 80s, successful active substances to treat glaucoma were in-licensed.
Subsequently, the company expanded its portfolio in the ophthalmological segment (eye care).
They started selling intraocular lenses (IOL) and producing viscoelastic ampoules to be used for cataract surgery.
Croma was certified as one of the first manufacturers of medicinal products in Austria.
Due to the increasing demand, the company relocated to its newly constructed fully-automated production facility in Leobendorf near Vienna.
This set the milestone for the successful future of the family company.
Over the next two decades, more than 40 million syringes were produced.
Along with the steady growth of the company, Croma started to research and develop its own products. In the year 2002, it produced the first viscoelastics for the treatment of arthrosis. Further segments were then developed. After founding the first branches abroad in 2007, the Swiss company Xcelens® was acquired. Shortly thereafter, Croma took over the French manufacturer Cornéal® . These investments helped Croma to expand its international product portfolio in the ophthalmological segment significantly. The portfolio was also expanded by the dermatological aesthetics segment. The brand Princess® was successfully established. These hyaluronic acid syringes were used for minimally invasive beauty treatments. This was an international trend, recognized early on, which developed into the core business over the following years. Together with Bausch & Lomb, Croma distributed the innovative, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent Yellox® . As the years went by, Yellox® became an international bestseller. As part of a comprehensive strategic re-orientation, the focus was placed on minimally invasive aesthetic treatments. Croma sold its product portfolio in the segments of ophthalmology and orthopaedics to Valeant Pharmaceuticals. Croma continues to operate as a producer of hyaluronic acid within these segments.
The new company headquarters in Leobendorf were completed.
These accommodate one of the most modern automatic syringe filling systems in the world and over 6,000m 2 of work and office space.
With around 350 employees and 12 subsidiaries in Australia, Brazil, Canada, the European Union and Switzerland, Croma is one of the most successful pharmaceutical companies in Austria.