Pharmacy Studies and Industrial Practice: University of Münster Visits Dr. Willmar Schwabe

What would theoretical learning be without seeing how things work in practice? What would a pharmacy degree program be without field trips? Where are the intersections between academic learning and industrial production? What does an industrial pharmacist actually do? These questions were on the minds of 49 pharmacy students from the University of Münster on October 15, 2026, during an industrial field trip to Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG in Karlsruhe. Led by Prof. Dr. Andreas Hensel from the Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, students and faculty gladly accepted the invitation to a high-caliber scientific event featuring lectures, discussions, and a tour. The group set out from Münster the day before for the Baden region to get to know Karlsruhe in the evening and experience a bit of its nightlife in a relaxed atmosphere. The next morning, the event began with a brief introduction to the company. The sometimes quite complex issues surrounding the approval and quality of phytopharmaceuticals were discussed in detail. A key point of discussion was the question of future innovations and the options available for meeting the restrictive requirements for new phytopharmaceutical approvals, so as not to remain confined solely to the sector of traditional registrations. The fact that quality assurance aspects can also be quite complex and challenging was illustrated by current issues of adulteration in ginkgo extracts from the poorly regulated global market. In another session of presentations and discussions, the role and function of preclinical and clinical research in the phytopharmaceutical industry were presented and discussed; all participants emphasized the importance of addressing these topics with meaningful datasets to provide evidence for rational phytotherapeutics, as demonstrated by Schwabe, a representative of the research-based pharmaceutical industry. There was an in-depth discussion of the differences in quality between dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals. Following the theoretical session, small groups toured the laboratories for analytical development, preclinical research (phytochemistry and pharmacology), and galenic development; some students drew comparisons with the student lab spaces—of course, drug analysis, natural product chemistry, analytical methods, drug development, and testing are also taught in the pharmacy program. It’s great that the students see that the instrumental techniques and methods they learn in school reappear in industrial practice—so perhaps the program isn’t quite as detached from practical application as it might seem?

This was followed by an introduction to the practical process of ginkgo extract production at the on-site Extracta production facility. Everyone was impressed by the scale of the technology used and the efficiency with which many metric tons of leaf material are safely transformed into a high-quality product. And the lavender oil distillation column is truly impressive! The event concluded with a brief presentation and discussion on the role of pharmacists in the pharmaceutical industry, highlighting the importance of this profession across all sectors of the industry. The fact that the vast majority of industrial pharmacists hold a doctorate in the natural sciences should by no means deter pharmacists without a doctorate from applying for positions in the industry.

On behalf of the group, Prof. Hensel extended his heartfelt thanks to everyone at Schwabe for their hospitality, the wonderful refreshments, and the scientifically very fruitful field trip days.
Everyone agreed: field trips are fun and are an excellent way to reinforce learning objectives!
And when it becomes clear that modern phytopharmaceuticals are rational, well-documented medicines with high quality standards and clinical evidence, this should serve as an incentive for every pharmacist interested in pharmaceutical biology to continue working intensively in this field—conducting research, teaching, and manufacturing.