Roche CEO Urges Switzerland to Raise Drug Prices in Line with US Agreements
The plan targets eight countries in total: Denmark, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Canada, and Switzerland.
Zurich: Roche Chief Executive Thomas Schinecker has called on Switzerland to increase prices for new drugs to align with agreements reached in the United States, warning that failure to do so could negatively impact the country’s vital pharmaceutical sector. The remarks were made in an interview with Switzerland’s Tamedia Group, published by Le Matin Dimanche on Sunday.
Roche’s US subsidiary, Genentech, is among 14 pharmaceutical companies that have signed on to US President Donald Trump’s initiative to lower drug prices in America while harmonizing costs with other wealthy nations. Under the “Most Favoured Nation” pricing deal, Genentech has agreed to match the lowest prices offered in other advanced economies, including Switzerland.
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Schinecker stressed that Switzerland “has the most to gain and the most to lose” in this arrangement, highlighting that the US administration seeks contributions from countries with stronger economies to support the development of new medicines. The plan targets eight countries in total: Denmark, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Canada, and Switzerland.
For nations like Switzerland, with higher GDP per capita than the United States, this could translate into higher prices for new drugs, although existing drugs would not be affected. Schinecker warned that without reforms, Roche’s revenue, investment in research, tax contributions, and employment in Switzerland could all decline. The company currently employs over 15,000 people in the country, and the pharmaceutical sector contributes 10% of Switzerland’s GDP and generates roughly 4 billion Swiss francs ($5 billion) in tax revenue annually.
The comments come amid ongoing US-Switzerland negotiations to reduce a 39% US tariff on Swiss goods to 15%, with drug pricing expected to become a key discussion point. Roche earlier announced plans to invest $50 billion in the United States over the next five years, representing half of its projected investment potential and roughly corresponding to its US revenue share.
Schinecker emphasized that these investments are concrete, aimed at maintaining Roche’s global competitiveness while navigating evolving international pricing policies.
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