So far, Parliament has put the brakes on saving medicines. A new initiative now wants to extend document protection and thus delay the market entry of generics. Is this the turnaround?
Apr 01, 2026, 06:1604/01/2026, 06:17
Anna Wanner / ch media
The costs of medication are rising rapidly in basic insurance. This affects the premiums. That’s why Parliament recently decided on discounts for the top-selling drugs. The desired one Savings effect is around 350 million francs per year.
If the document protection for medications is extended, the introduction of generics will be delayed.Image: KEYSTONE
In addition, there is strong pressure from the USA: According to the US President’s wishes, Swiss drug prices should serve as a template to lower those in the USA. Swiss prices are absolutely high: nowhere else are medicines more expensive than here. But the industry uses purchasing power-adjusted prices for the comparison – and Switzerland falls massively behind in the statistics. The result: Switzerland could be excluded from the launch of new drugs in the future because, as a comparison country, it depresses prices for the important US market.
The Federal Council therefore created the “Life Sciences Location” working group at the beginning of the year to improve the framework conditions for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The first results are expected at the end of the year.
But now Parliament is rushing forward: In an initiative, the Federal Council is tasked with creating better conditions for clinical studies in Switzerland. In addition to shortened approval times for medications, this also includes the reduction of fees for their approval and, above all, extended document protection. In contrast to the patent, which protects the invention of the active ingredient, the manufacturer’s approval documents (studies) are protected through document protection. They may not be used by generic drug manufacturers for approval.
Generics have the same effect as original preparations, but are cheaper.Image: KEYSTONE
Federal Council supports additional costs
The background: The number of clinical studies in Switzerland is decreasing. “In view of the increasing competition in the European and global environment, it is important to specifically strengthen Switzerland’s attractiveness as a location,” writes the Science and Education Commission of the Council of States, which prepared the application.
The Federal Council has already agreed to the request: clinical studies are of strategic importance in terms of health policy and the economy. The Federal Council wants to implement the concerns and even advocates “complete fee waiver for academically initiated clinical examinations and performance studies”. The industry should not pay the costs of around 100,000 francs for approval, These would have to be “financed elsewhere,” said the Federal Council.
These are not the only costs that the public incurs. If, after the Council of States, the National Council also agrees to the proposal, the population will increasingly be asked to pay. The longer document protection would lead to “high additional costs for compulsory health insurance,” as the Federal Office of Public Health wrote upon request. The reason: Document protection delays the approval of generics. The associated savings would be postponed.
Sabotage of austerity efforts
In concrete terms, this means: The thrombosis prophylaxis Xarelto from the manufacturer Bayer cost health insurance companies 122 million francs in 2024. The generics for the product have prices that are 70 percent lower. If the protection is extended by one year, this would cause additional costs of up to 85 million francs, as the BAG has calculated.
The situation is similar with the drug against age-related macular degeneration Eylea, which costs health insurance companies around 162 million francs annually. The biosimilar is 35 percent cheaper than the original. Insured people would have to shell out a good 55 million francs per year for longer document protection.
The irony of the story: The new rule affects those medications that have recently had to pay discounts due to high sales. This means that large pharmaceutical companies like Bayer would be burdened and relieved at the same time. About what has already been decided According to the cost follow-up model, Bayer would have to pay back discounts amounting to 42.4 million francs to the insurers for Eyleaas the health insurance company Helsana calculated. For the blood thinner Xarelto it is 17.7 million francs. At the same time, thanks to extended document protection, it could earn more money and for longer: according to the federal calculations described, this would be around 160 million francs in additional income per year.
The savings effect would remain in a small place. The Federal Office of Public Health also writes:
“We assume that the Federal Council will take the potential additional costs into account when considering measures to promote clinical trials for new drugs in Switzerland.”
In general, Switzerland already has a very long document protection regime compared to other countries. And: “The costs for research and development are very well rewarded.” (aargauerzeitung.ch)