Last year was a good year for Swiss pharma. Roche\u2019s sales rose 7% (at constant exchange rates) to CHF61.5 billion ($79.8 billion), driven by strong demand for drugs for multiple sclerosis, eye diseases and Haemophilia A. With ten new molecules entering late-stage clinical trials, 2025 was \u201cvery much a record year for Roche\u201d, said CEO Thomas Schinecker at the company\u2019s annual results media conference in January.
\nIts cross-town rival, Novartis, was also upbeat about 2025, with sales of key brands \u201cwell above expectations\u201d, according to its annual reportExternal link, enough to boost CEO Vas Narasimhan\u2019s compensation by 30%. Even with generic competition expected to dent sales in 2026, Novartis\u2019 US shares were trading at all-time highs in early February.
\nThey are now the two most valuable companies in Switzerland, according to a global ranking by consulting firmExternal link EY. Roche rose to 31st from 46th with a market capitalisation of $353.4 billion, up more than 50% on the previous year. Novartis rose from 66th to 53rd with $265.2 billion, replacing food giant Nestl\u00e9 as the second-most valuable Swiss company.
\nOne would assume all this good news for Switzerland\u2019s largest companies would be good news for Switzerland. The two companies are among the country\u2019s biggest taxpayers, employ some 25,000 people in the country and support thousands of jobs indirectly.
\nThe biopharma industry as a whole, which includes thousands of smaller companies, was responsibleExternal link for 40% of the country\u2019s economic growth over the last decade. It generates around 7% of GDP, and over 40% of Swiss exports, making it the most important export sector.
\nBut instead of celebration, Swiss politicians and industry leaders are racing to enact what they see as urgent reforms to retain Switzerland\u2019s reputation as a pharma powerhouse.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Last year was a good year for Swiss pharma. Roche\u2019s sales rose 7% (at constant exchange rates) to CHF61.5 billion ($79.8 billion), driven by strong demand for drugs for multiple sclerosis, eye diseases and Haemophilia A. With ten new molecules entering late-stage clinical trials, 2025 was \u201cvery much a record year for Roche\u201d, said CEO […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2657,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[849],"class_list":{"0":"post-2656","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sitefansalaran-industry-news","8":"tag-swiss-pharmas-global-success-meets-worries-at-home"},"yoast_head":"\n