Quasaar – Wirtschaftsforum

The Saarland-based “Speedboat” of Pharmaceutical Testing

An interview with Dr. Markus Limberger about Quasaar GmbH

In the highly regulated pharmaceutical industry, nuances often determine patient safety and market success. While global corporations rely on sheer scale, a company in Bexbach has established itself by combining agility with top-tier regulatory expertise: Quasaar. After ten years in the market, co-founder and Managing Director Dr. Markus Limberger looks back on a success story defined by loyalty to the region, resilience in the face of crises, and the “human factor.”

A Name That Says It All: Quality from Saarland
When Dr. Markus Limberger and Dr. Christoph Jacobs founded Quasaar in 2015, it was a deliberate choice in favor of entrepreneurial freedom and the Saarland region. Both had studied chemistry there and gained management experience at a medium-sized laboratory. When that company was acquired by a major corporation, the decision to strike out on their own took shape: “We really liked the small, medium-sized company where we had been working,” recalls Dr. Markus Limberger.

The name “Quasaar” is an acronym for “Qualität, Saarland” (Quality, Saarland). “We are committed to Saarland as a business location; otherwise, we wouldn’t have stayed here,” the Managing Director emphasizes. What began with fewer than ten employees in Überherrn has grown into a GMP- and FDA-qualified service provider with a team of nearly 40 experts. Building the business required patience, as client qualification processes in the industry often take three to four years. Quasaar used this time to make a name for itself by taking on technically demanding development projects and transitioning them into the highly regulated GMP phase.

Growth through regulatory foresight
Alongside its core business of finished pharmaceuticals and active ingredients, a key strategic move was the early expansion of services to include excipients—such as lactose or citric acid—which have faced significantly stricter regulatory requirements since 2015. Quasaar extended its analytical and stability storage capabilities to cover these substances. The 2022 relocation to Bexbach was a logistical feat. “Moving a pharmaceutical laboratory is a bit like trying to switch a moving train to a new track; you can’t simply stop it,” explains the chemist, who holds a doctorate in the field. A state-of-the-art laboratory center was established in Bexbach, serving today as a partner to global pharmaceutical giants.

The renaissance of geographic proximity
The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst: as global supply chains fractured, the “lab around the corner” came back into focus. “Geographic proximity and immediate availability suddenly offered immense added value,” notes the company head. Its location in Saarland—close to the pharmaceutical hubs of Rhine-Main, Basel, and the Benelux region—became a strategic asset.
Today, Quasaar often operates as an agile “speedboat” and a “know-how enabler” for major corporations. The team excels particularly in technology transfer, thanks to its flat hierarchies. Management takes pride in the fact that Quasaar played a pivotal role in the market launch of global blockbuster drugs: “Our data was submitted to and praised by regulatory authorities worldwide.”

Technology and the “human factor”
Despite state-of-the-art computer systems and advanced digitalization, personal contact remains the heart of the business for Dr. Markus Limberger. While artificial intelligence (AI) already assists with data evaluation and trend analysis, the company consciously prioritizes a close, personal working relationship with its clients. “With us, one person speaks directly to another who is facing a problem. That is a key advantage we strongly leverage,” he emphasizes.

Combination products as an opportunity
For 2026 and beyond, Quasaar aims for controlled growth to a workforce of 50 to 80 employees in order to maintain flexibility. From a technological standpoint, the focus is shifting toward innovative dosage forms—such as implants and combination products (combining pharmaceuticals and medical devices)—as well as the medical device market. Quasaar demonstrates that a medium-sized enterprise can actively shape a global market through specialization and regulatory excellence. Above all else stands an unwavering commitment to patient safety and a zero-error policy—principles to which Dr. Markus Limberger, Dr. Christoph Jacobs, and their team dedicate themselves with the utmost precision every single day.