Successful kick-off for large clinical study with EGb 761® in China
2025-07-21
We are pleased to announce that, under the scientific direction of the renowned researcher Prof. Yongjun Wang, we have successfully kicked-off a large clinical trial with our Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761® in patients with cognitive impairment after stroke in China (GiCIIS - Ginkgo Biloba in Cognitive Impairment after an acute Ischemic Stroke). Professor Wang heads China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, which establishes treatment standards for neurological diseases in China. The center is based at Beijing Tiantan Hospital affiliated to the Capital Medical University.
As part of the 11th Annual Scientific Session of Chinese Stroke Association & TISC 2025, the investigators’ meeting for the study was attended by over 80 leading researchers from 45 medical centers across China and was meticulously planned and conducted by a scientific team from Tiantan Hospital. The meeting covered the latest advances and experiences from clinical practice in the treatment of cognitive impairment after stroke, and the planned study was discussed in detail.
Provide new, evidence-based medical data for the treatment of cognitive impairment after stroke
The aim of this study is to provide new, evidence-based medical data for the treatment of cognitive impairment after stroke, with a view to offer affected patients effective, scientifically proven treatment options. The speakers emphasized the value and clinical significance of new study data. Cognitive impairment is a common complication in stroke patients, with an incidence rate of up to 80% following a stroke.
The study will enroll 400 patients. All patients will receive standard treatment and will be followed for a period of one year. Patients will be randomly assigned to two groups: Standard treatment alone or standard treatment plus additional treatment with Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761®.
Photo caption: Prof. Yongjun Wang (4th from left) and his team — Prof. Beibei Xu, Prof. Xia Meng, and Prof. Jiong Shi (left to right) — together with our colleagues Dr. Dirk Bredenbröker, MD (5th from left), Petra Klement, Dr. Marilia Soria, and Anne-Katrin Maly (left to right) at Capital Medical University in Beijing, China.
Schwabe Supports International Congress on Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research as Gold Sponsor
2025-07-15
The Schwabe Group together with Bayer and the Euromed Group has become the top sponsor of the 73rd International Congress and Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA).
“We are very pleased to serve as a sponsor at this internationally significant congress, not least because it reflects our aspiration to be the leading company in research and development of herbal medicines," says Dr Dirk Bredenbröker, VP R&D of the Schwabe Group.
The International Congress is organized by the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA) jointly with Italian Society of Phytochemistry (SIF) as a globally recognized scientific event that brings together researchers, industry professionals, and academics to discuss the latest developments in the field of natural products. These include botanicals, phytochemicals, and other bioactive compounds derived from nature that are used in medicine, nutrition, and other applications.
The congress will take place from August 31 to September 3, 2025 in Naples, Italy.
Learn more about the event at www.ganaples2025.org
(Pic: Port of Naples, Adobe Stock)
New Real-World Data: Lavender Oil Medication Effective for Inner Restlessness, Anxiety, and Associated Depressive Symptoms
2025-06-30
A recent evaluation of over 60,000 real-world prescriptions from Germany and Switzerland provides compelling evidence for the good tolerability and effectiveness of lavender oil medication in patients experiencing inner restlessness, mild anxiety, and accompanying depressive symptoms.¹
Well Tolerated Across All Age Groups
The analysis of IQVIA-data shows that this herbal medicine is well tolerated not only by adults but also by adolescents. Prescriptions were recorded for individuals under 18 years of age – primarily those aged 16 to 17. Notably, tolerability remained high even with prolonged use. In Switzerland, 27.6% of patients used the product for more than three months, and 13.4% for more than six months – with no increase in adverse events.
Side Effects
So-called adverse events were comparable to the control periods without treatment
Conclusion
Due to its good tolerability – which has also been confirmed with longer-term use and in younger patients – the herbal active ingredient Silexan® is a popular choice for offering patients with mild anxiety symptoms a well-tolerated and effective therapy..
Access to the publication: Silexan is well-tolerated for long-term use in adults and for treatment of adolescents: a real-world data analysis - PubMed
¹ Volz HP et al. Silexan is well-tolerated for long-term use in adults and for treatment of adolescents: a real-world data analysis. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, 2025.
New Study Reveals Impact of Menthacarin® on Gut Microbiota and SCFA Production
2025-05-12
We are proud to announce the publication of a new scientific article in the renowned journal Frontiers in Pharmacology, highlighting groundbreaking research on Menthacarin®. The study discussed in the article investigates the effects of our active ingredient Menthacarin®, our proprietary formulation of peppermint and caraway oil, on human fecal microbiota composition and SCFA production in an in vitro system.
Key Highlights:
- Menthacarin® significantly alters microbiota composition at both the phylum and genus levels.
- Increases beneficial bacteria such as Firmicutes (+13.6%) and Actinobacteria (+54.9%).
- Decreases harmful bacteria such as Bacteroidetes (−27.7%) and Proteobacteria (−25.7%).
- Enhances production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) including propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, valerate, and isovalerate.
- Potential therapeutic benefits for gut–brain interaction disorders through normalization of gut dysbiosis.
The study was conducted in collaboration between our R&D team and Acaryon GmbH.
Read the full publication here:
Silexan® tested in study on Pharmaceutical Quality of Herbal Medicinal Products
2025-04-07
In a recent study the pharmaceutical quality of herbal medicinal products and dietary supplements containing Lavandula species was examined. The research evaluated the disintegration performance and phytochemical composition of 73 Lavandula products.
The study discovered that 63% of the products had little to no key marker compounds of lavender (linalool, linalyl acetate, cineole), and 30% failed the disintegration tests.
However, all Schwabe products featuring our special medicinal lavender oil Silexan® passed the tests without any issues.
The full study can be read here: Pharmaceutical quality of herbal medicinal products and dietary supplements – a case study with oral solid formulations containing Lavandula species - ScienceDirect
Post-COVID Syndrome: First Patients Enrolled into our COCOS Study
2025-04-01
We are thrilled to announce that the first patients have now been enrolled into the COCOS study!
The COCOS study is a clinical trial investigating the treatment effects of our Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® in patients with cognitive impairment associated with post-COVID-19 syndrome.
“COCOS” aims to address the current lack of treatment for cognitive impairment in post-COVID syndrome and contribute to the understanding of EGb 761®, our proprietary dry extract from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba, as a potential treatment for cognitive impairment in post-COVID-19 syndrome.
The study will be conducted in three countries: Germany, Poland, and Spain, with a total of 400 patients planned to participate. We are excitedly awaiting the results in 2026.
Further information on the study can be found at the following link:
Background:
Whilst the acute infection with SARS-CoV-2 viruses has lost its horror, the health impairment of patients with post-COVID syndrome is very burdensome both for those affected and for the healthcare system as a whole. In Europe alone, the number of people affected by post-COVID is estimated at 36 million. Numerous initiatives have been launched to provide better help for those affected through new therapeutic options, but the disease is still poorly understood and there is still no approved therapy available.
More than one-fifth of patients with post-COVID syndrome report cognitive impairment, with attention, memory, or executive functioning deficits. which has a substantial negative impact on daily functioning and quality of life and may lead to significant economic consequences for individuals and society.
The pathophysiology of post-COVID syndrome associated cognitive impairment is not fully understood, but key factors such as neuroinflammation, neurovascular dysfunction, and disruption of cellular energy metabolism have been identified. There are no evidence-based treatments that target the pathologic mechanisms of cognitive impairment associated with PCS, thus current management is directed towards symptom relief.
Schwabe acquires majority stake in Braineffect
2025-03-17
The Schwabe Group has increased its shares in Braineffect, acquired in 2020, and now holds the majority in the Berlin-based company that develops nutritional supplements and so-called "functional foods."
“With Braineffect, we bring on board a brand brimming with innovation and perfectly aligned with our purpose to help people live healthier lives,” says Olaf Schwabe, CEO of the Schwabe Group.
This partnership goes beyond a mere acquisition: it’s about combining the best of both worlds to tap into new audiences and redefine what it means to be healthy in a digital age. Stay tuned—there’s more to come!
Founder and CEO Fabian Foelsch remains on board, continuing to guide Braineffect’s future success.
Are you a journalist with questions about the acquisition? Please contact Uta Wanner, Director of Corporate Communications at Schwabe Group, at [email protected]
Tinnitus and Dementia: Two Real-World Evidence Studies Published
2025-02-19
The analysis of data from everyday practice (“real-world data”) is playing an increasingly important role in science. They can provide findings (“real-world evidence”) that can hardly be generated in strictly regulated clinical trials, for example in large patient populations or on long-term use.
The method also offers the possibility of researching interesting aspects of the use of already approved products without having to carry out a very complex and expensive trial.
Schwabe is therefore increasingly using this type of scientific studies.
Last year an evaluation of tinnitus treatments was published (Frontiers | Ginkgo biloba extract prescriptions are associated with less frequent repeat visits to ENT doctors due to tinnitus: a retrospective cohort study). It shows that the number of follow-up consultations was lower after patients received prescriptions of Ginkgo medicinal products as compared to other active ingredients.
Another study with an observation period of up to 10 years shows that the progression of dementia severity was slower in patients receiving Ginkgo extract prescriptions (Ginkgo biloba Extract Prescriptions Are Associated with Slower Progression of Dementia Severity—Analysis of Longitudinal Real-World Data).
The publications are freely available on the Internet.
ESCOP Annual Kick-Off Meeting at Schwabe Headquarters
2025-02-04
We were honored to host the 2025 annual kick-off meeting of the ESCOP Board and Scientific Committee at our headquarters.
The European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP) is the European umbrella organization of national scientific associations on Hashtagphytotherapy.
The Board welcomed Roy Upton, founder and executive director of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), to explore cooperation between ESCOP and AHP. A memorandum of understanding is in preparation, and plans for the next ESCOP webinars were discussed.
It was a great pleasure and an honor to welcome the ESCOP to our headquarters, share knowledge, and shape the future of phytotherapy together.
Alzheimer disease model: EGb 761 shows promising results
2025-01-20
We are thrilled to announce the publication of the results from our research collaboration with Prof. Kristina Endres (University Medical Center Mainz) on the effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract EGb 761® in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) model.
The study, conducted on the 5xFAD mouse model, reveals promising results in improving cognitive function and reducing amyloid plaque load in the brain.
Key findings include:
✅ Improved cognitive function in 5xFAD mice
✅ Reduction in amyloid plaque load in the prefrontal cortex
✅ Sex-specific alterations in AD-related gene expression
✅ Anti-inflammatory effects both in the brain and peripherally
✅ Impact on disease-associated microglia (DAM2)
These results highlight the potential of EGb 761® as a multimodal treatment for cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease addressing both sex-specific and general mechanisms.
The publication can be found here: ScienceDirect - Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761®