– Our Heritage

Our Heritage

From local family pharmacy to global reach in minimally invasive aesthetics

Croma started as a family pharmacy in Vienna. It has remained a family company; however, today it reaches out globally as a challenger in the minimally invasive aesthetics market.

In 1976, pharmacist couple Karin and Gerhard Prinz founded Croma-Pharma^® in Vienna. Early on they focused on bringing novel, innovative drugs to Austria. Their ambition was to advance the development of innovative pharmaceutical products and to make them more accessible for patients. "We started with one salesperson, one bookkeeper and one supplier. I was this single employee", remembers Gerhard Prinz.

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The 1980s and 1990s: The beginnings in ophthalmology

In the 1980s, Croma started to successfully license active substances to treat glaucoma and subsequently expanded its portfolio in ophthalmology (eye care). It started selling intraocular lenses (IOL) and produced viscoelastic ampoules for cataract surgery. Croma-Pharma 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 north of Vienna. This set the milestone for the successful future of the family company. The second generation joined the company, with brothers Andreas and Martin, trained pharmacists like their parents. Over the next decades, more than 100 million syringes were produced.

The 2000s: New business areas - orthopaedics and aesthetics

Along with the steady growth of the company, Croma started to research and develop its own products in ophthalmology. In 1999, the company started to sell them internationally. In 2002, it produced the first viscoelastics for the treatment of arthrosis and moved into further segments. After founding the first branches abroad in 2007, the Swiss company Xcelens^® was acquired. Shortly thereafter, Croma-Pharma took over the French manufacturer Cornéal^®. These investments helped Croma to expand its international product portfolio in the ophthalmological segment significantly.

In 2009, Croma started to move into dermatological aesthetics and successfully established its brand Princess, expanding the use of its hyaluronic acid syringes to minimally invasive beauty treatments. An international trend, recognised early on, developed into the core business over the following years. Together with Bausch & Lomb, Croma-Pharma distributed the innovative, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent Yellox^® which became an international bestseller.

The 2010s: Fully focused on aesthetics

Following its strategic realignment in 2014, Croma focused on minimally invasive aesthetics and has since evolved into a global player in the dynamically growing aesthetics market and one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of premium-quality hyaluronic acid (HA) syringes. While selling its ophthalmology and orthopaedics product portfolio in 2014, Croma continued to manufacture hyaluronic acid syringes within these segments, building on decades of expertise in medical applications.

The company’s continued growth was marked by the opening of its new headquarters near Vienna in 2018, home to one of the world’s most modern fully automated hyaluronic acid manufacturing facilities, capable of processing more than 5,000 syringes per hour.

Croma Today

Today, Croma offers a comprehensive aesthetics portfolio covering all key treatment categories in minimally invasive aesthetic medicine. Its range includes botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid fillers, lifting threads (PDO threads), polynucleotide injectables, HA skin boosters, skincare products, as well as autologous PRP & I Fluid-PRF medical devices. With this full-face approach, Croma provides aesthetic professionals and their patients with safe, effective, and reliable solutions from a single trusted source.

A major milestone in Croma’s international expansion was achieved in 2025 with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its first hyaluronic acid filler product for the U.S. market, commercialized in partnership with Obagi Medical and Waldencast. The approval marked Croma’s entry into the U.S. aesthetics market and further reinforced the company’s commitment to innovation, scientific excellence, and global regulatory standards.

Croma currently employs around 450 people and operates internationally through its subsidiaries and distribution partners, making its products available in more than 80 countries worldwide. In 2026, Croma surpassed 130 million syringes produced, further strengthening its position as a leading European HA manufacturer.

Shaping the future

Building on its heritage in orthopedics and ophthalmology, Croma is re-entering the orthopedics market in 2026, marking a strategic expansion beyond aesthetics and reinforcing its long-standing medical roots.

Following founder Gerhard Prinz’s retirement, Andreas Prinz (CEO) and Peter Haidenek (CFO) now lead the company together, continuing Croma’s commitment to precision, innovation, and Austrian pioneer spirit as a proudly family-owned company shaping the future of aesthetic medicine.