Second generation – development and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals

In 1978, Doris Schäfer, Rolf Schäfer and Hans Hitz join Werner, after academic careers at Max-Planck, Rockefeller & Salk Institute. They perform contract R&D and license technology to global health care organizations, among them Alcon. The team develops one of the core strengths of CIS Pharma AG, the synthesis and scale-up of molecules for Ophthalmology. New technologies are also developed for the cosmetic industry. In 1983, Amcis AG is incorporated as a spin-off from CIS Pharma. The collaboration with Alcon drives the growth of CIS Pharma:  in 1987, CIS Pharma expands its facilities by moving from Basel to the current campus in Bubendorf. In 1996, a new Amcis cGMP production facility is built to exclusively manufacture APIs for Alcon.