Posted By: CORPORATE HOUSING

To develop innovative infusion and injection systems that allow a simpler, more precise and reliable delivery of liquid medication than with conventional devices and procedures. In the early 80's the two brothers Willy and Peter Michel recognise that the treatment of diabetes could be substantially improved and the quality of life of patients significantly enhanced with sophisticated programmable insulin pumps. Ever ambitious they decide to develop the world's smallest and best insulin pump. While Willy Michel has worked as an executive in the pharmaceutical industry and is an expert in diabetes treatment, Peter Michel contributes his extensive theoretical and practical knowledge in physics and engineering. Unfortunately, what the two young entrepreneurs are still lacking is sufficient funding - only thanks to help by a government agency can the financing of their project be completed.

...which soon becomes reality...

1984    

Founding of Disetronic Medical Systems AG with initially three employees. Development of the first insulin pump MRS.
   
             
1985    

Aventis (Hoechst) takes over the marketing and distribution of the MRS insulin pump in important European markets.
Sales in the first business year:
CHF 500,000.
   
             
1986    

Development of the OptiPen insulin pen for Aventis, which is much easier to use and more precise than conventional syringes.
   
             
1987    

Purchase of the commercial building Brunnmatt in Burgdorf as the growth requires ever more space.
     
             
1988    

Set-up of the first foreign sales subsidiary in Sulzbach, Germany, to market insulin pumps directly.
   
             
1989    

Purchase of a production plant in Kiel, Germany, where micro-dosage pumps for Ferring are manufactured.
Pharmacia launches the KabiPen, developed and manufactured by Disetronic, for the treatment of growth disorders.
   

             
1990    

Sales exceed CHF 10 million for the first time.
Disetronic Holding AG is founded.
     
             
1991    

Market launch of several new products: H-TRON V100, the second generation insulin pump, Panomat, a micro-dosage pump for therapies beyond diabetes care, and the second generation of the OptiPen for Aventis (featuring an electronic display of the dose for the first time).
Set-up of a sales subsidiary in the USA.
   
             
1992     Manufacturing of sterile pen cannulas under clean-room conditions in Burgdorf starts.    
             
1993     The quality management system is certified to comply with ISO 9001 / EN 29001 and EN 46001.    
             
1994    

Eli Lilly launches the Humatro-Pen, developed and manufactured by Disetronic, for the treatment of growth disorders. Acquisition of Décolletage AG, an important supplier of precision turned parts.
     
             
1995    

Sales exceed CHF 50 million for the first time. Move into a modern and spacious building extension in Burgdorf.
Set-up of a sales subsidiary in the Netherlands. Pharmacia launches the second generation of its growth hormone pen.
   
             
1996    

Launch of H-TRONplus, the third generation insulin pump, and of Penfine, a pen cannula that does not have to be screwed on, but is simply clicked on. Set-up of a sales subsidiary in France.
Initial public offering of Disetronic Holding’s shares. The issue of 72,000 bearer shares at CHF 1350 (adjusted CHF 168.75) each is a huge success. The opening price exceeds the offering price by more than 50%.
   
             
1997    

Sales exceed CHF 100 million for the first time. Acquisition of Micro Med, Portsmouth NH (USA), a contract manufacturer of sterile products, and of the Dutch company Dahedi Medical Systems, manufacturer of the world’s smallest insulin pump. Boehringer Mannheim launches the Reco-Pen, developed and manufactured by Disetronic, for the treatment of renal anaemia with EPO.
   
             
1998    

Aventis launches OptiPen Pro, the third generation insulin pen from Disetronic. Acquisition of Rondo AG and Dividella AG, manufacturers of high-quality packaging materials and packaging machines for the packaging of medication and pens in environmentally friendly cardboard. The two companies form the new Pharmaceutical Packaging Systems division.
Set-up of sales subsidiaries in Scandinavia and Austria.
     
             
1999    

The headcount of the Disetronic Group exceeds 1000 employees for the first time.
Set-up of a sales subsidiary in Great Britain.
     
             
2000    

Sales exceed CHF 250 million for the first time.
Set-up of a sales subsidiary in Italy.
Presentation of the GlucOnline development project for a continuous glucose sensor.
The market launch of the D-TRON is setting a new standard for the convenience and performance of insulin pumps.
Introduction of the Dahedi in the US market. Partnership with TheraSense Inc., Alameda CA, for the marketing and distribution of the innovative FreeStyle blood glucose measurement system in selected European countries.
Start of the production of the OptiSet ready-to-use pen for Aventis.
   
             
2001    

Launch of FreeStyle in Germany, Austria, Finland and Sweden and introduction of the high-end Ultraflex infusion set to the US market.
Purchase of a 6% stake in TheraSense.
   
     
     
2002     Divestiture of the Pharma packaging Systems business - concentration on the two core activities Infusion and Injection systems.
Launch of FreeStyle in the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and Switzerland.