Large Swiss pharmaceutical companies have not awaited the threats of Donald Trump to increase their production in the United States. It is already important. But undoubtedly, the ambient climate pushes them to hurry. The American president threatened the pharmas with progressive surcharge which could wait 250% if they do not lower their price in the United States.
To the NZZ on SundayNovartis indicates that he will ultimately want to produce 100% of his most important drugs in the United States, which represents a “significant increase” compared to the current situation.
Our point on August 1, 2025: For the time being spared by customs duties, the Swiss Pharma has two months to lower its prices and satisfy Donald Trump
Roche wants to export from the United States
The company announces 23 billion investments in the United States at this time, Roche, it, 50 billion. She wants to go further, claiming to aim for a status of net exporter of the American soil. “In other words,” writes the NZZ, the group wishes to export from the United States more drugs to the rest of the world that it has been important for other countries, such as Switzerland. Roche alone would no longer have a trade deficit with the United States. This objective is already achieved in the field of diagnosis. ”
Novartis is a little less involved in the United States. But there is no shortage of projects:
She wants to create a research center in San Diego, California, in the next five years. Four production sites are also planned, three for biotechnological drugs and one for chemicals and pills. The location of these new structures will be decided “soon”.
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What risks for Switzerland?
What would be the impact of massive relocations to the country of Donald Trump? The pharmaceutical sector employs 50,000 people in Switzerland. About 10,000 of them work in production, the newspaper said on the basis of branch studies. Novartis, for example, operates an important production plant in Stein, and Roche in Kaiseraugst.
“Other functions are more important, however. About 11,000 employees work in research and development, ”adds the NZZ, and 30,000 people are employed in the groups of groups, especially in sales and marketing for the whole world. These functions should be maintained in Switzerland.
Swiss giants would thus advance their arguments in terms of local production, an aspect often put forward by Donald Trump to make customs duties. But the issue of prices charged in the United States remains open, and with it, the threat to group revenue.